REPORTS REVEAL CAUSES OF GEN. OGOLLA PLANE CRASH.

Military probation reports has revealed that engine malfunction , known as Engine Compressor Stall ( Surge), led to the chopper crash that killed CDF General Francis Ogolla and other officers.

In a report released on Friday, the Ministry of Defence illustrated that the Huey Helicopter KAF 1501 was first assessed to ensure a relatively high level of reliability, having conducted various successful and being operated by highly qualified crew, it was probably the best to use.

"Further, the flight was operated by qualified, competent crew. However, dependent on information from the survivors, after experiencing Complete Power Loss, the Pilots of KAF 1501 attempted to control the Helicopter to a clear Landing Zone but lost positive control of the aircraft," the report stated.

This military report was in tandem with reports from witnesses , they heard a loud bang at the Engine compartment . Moreover, the Measured Gas Temperature (MGT) gauge, when powered, displayed an Over-Exceedance of 914 °C.

This caused a Complete Power Loss, followed by a left yaw, drop in Engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM), low RPM audio alarm and change in engine noise.

"Based on facts and evidence gathered, and indicated in the findings above, the Board of Inquiry is of the opinion that the Bell UH-1H-II (Huey) Helicopter KAF 1501 crashed due to Engine Malfunction," the reports maintained.

The unprecedented demise of Francis Ogolla, Chief of Defence Forces, occured on April 18, 2024.
Alongside Ogolla were other 12 officials who were involved in the crash in Kaben, Marakwet East. However, one official believed to be a photographer survived.