ACCORDING TO A 15-PAGE REPORT RELEASED BY THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BUREAU (AIB), INITIAL FINDINGS INCLUDE THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD A VALID CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS AND WAS TOPPED TO FULL-TANK CAPACITY ON AUGUST 27 AFTER WHICH A 20-MINUTE TEST-FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED.

IT ALSO NOTED THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD NO FUEL JETTISONING CAPACITY CONTRARY TO EYEWITNESSES’ ACCOUNT THAT THE PILOT RELEASED FUEL FROM ABOVE, BEFORE THE CRASH.

THE REPORT ADDED THAT THE ILL-FATED AIRCRAFT HAD AN ENDURANCE OF THREE HOURS AND 15 MINUTES AND A FLIGHT TIME OF TWO HOURS AND 45 MINUTES.