Recently, as an Army Cobra helicopter crashed during flight training, killing two pilots, the military's lax management of aging aircraft has come under scrutiny. Passenger jets are designated as "aged aircraft" and managed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport once they are more than 20 years old. But helicopters and fighter jets used by Korea's troops continue operating for 30 to 40 years without separate management.
According to the aviation industry and the Army on the 21st, voices pointing to the helicopter's "age" as the cause of the accident on the 9th in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi, in which two pilots died during Cobra helicopter (AH-1S) flight training, are growing.
The helicopter involved in the accident was introduced in 1991 and had accumulated 4,500 flight hours. Industry officials said engine thrust had significantly decreased because the engine had not been replaced for a long time. It is a model already retired in the United States, making it difficult to obtain parts. The military said how many of this helicopter type remain is classified.
This is not the first time a Cobra helicopter has had problems. In Sept. 2018, one Cobra helicopter experienced a separation of its main rotor blade during takeoff while in training and made an emergency landing.
There have been many cases of service members dying in accidents involving aging helicopters. In Feb. 2016 in Chuncheon, Gangwon, a UH-1H helicopter crashed, killing three people. The 43-year-old helicopter rapidly climbed during a hover, then overturned and crashed. A hydraulic system malfunction was identified as the cause. In Feb. 2008, a UH-1H helicopter crashed near Mount Yongmun in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi, while returning to base after transporting a patient, killing seven.
Some aviation and military officials said delays in domestic defense companies' development of homegrown helicopters forced the Army to operate helicopters beyond reasonable limits.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration has conducted a research and development program since 2015 to replace a total of 180 aging attack helicopters, including Cobra helicopters and 500MD "Tow," with the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH). The military aimed to retire these models from 2021 to 2027, but the replacement plan was postponed as the LAH program was delayed. The LAH is developed and produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
An aviation industry official with experience operating military helicopters said, "Concerns about aging helicopters have been consistently raised for years," adding, "They only get brief attention when there is a major accident or when a pilot dies, and there seems to be no will to manage them."
Even so, there appears to be no Army-level system to manage aging helicopters. They undergo periodic maintenance along with all helicopters, but there is no detailed management specific to aging models.
The helicopter involved in the accident also underwent a preflight inspection that morning. Regular and periodic inspections were carried out according to the manual, and no abnormalities were found. However, the specific circumstances of the crash, communications, altitude, and engine output are currently under investigation by the Central Accident Investigation Board.
An Army official said, "Operations of the accident model have been suspended," adding, "It was originally scheduled to be retired starting in 2028, and there is no separate system to manage aging helicopters."
The Air Force's aging fighter jets are in a similar situation. The F-5 and F-4 (Phantom), which are being operated to fill the capability gap until the introduction of the Korean 4.5-generation fighter KF-21, are representative.
These models were introduced 40 to 50 years ago. Since 2000 alone, more than 12 F-5s have crashed. The F-4 was known for frequent engine failures until retirement, causing pilots to take the controls with anxiety. Since 2000, 17 pilots have died in F-5 and F-4 accidents. The KF-21 goes into mass production this year.
This stands in stark contrast to the management of passenger jets used by the general public. Passenger jets more than 20 years after production are subject to detailed oversight by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the competent authority. Inspectors use separate checklists for aging passenger jets and verify more items.
They also inspect for airframe structural cracks and corrosion, which are omitted for standard passenger jets. Inspection time is three to four days, longer than for standard passenger jets (two days). As of the end of last year, there were 67 aging Korean-registered passenger jets, about 15% of the total 441. The ratio has been declining as fleets are rapidly replaced with high-efficiency models.
An official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "Airlines themselves are quickly shifting to high-efficiency models to reduce expense," adding, "The ministry operates a special management system for aging aircraft."
Meanwhile, the funeral for the late warrant officers Jeong Sang-geun and Jang Hee-seong, the helicopter pilots who died in the line of duty on the 12th, was solemnly held on the 12th at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital under the auspices of Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha. The same afternoon, an enshrinement ceremony was held at the Seoul National Cemetery.