Thursday, December 09, 2021

Advanced and robust chopper; weather could have been crash factor

The Mi-17V5 helicopter that crashed Wednesday had flown more than 26 hours without a snag after it was last serviced, according to sources. It belonged to the 109 Helicopter Unit based at the Sulur air base near Coimbatore.

No system malfunction or snag was reported in the last 2-3 sorties of this particular helicopter, sources said, adding “its history was clear, and there had been no technical failure”.

The Mi-17V5 is considered one of the “safest” and “most modern” military transport helicopters, a retired IAF officer said. “One must wait for the detailed investigation, but the past record of the helicopter model shows it is impeccable and 100% reliable.”

As per IAF protocol, prior to any VIP flights, the aircraft undergoes a three-stage mechanical check, following which access to the aircraft is sealed.

“To my mind, it must have been a freak accident because with a helicopter, even if both the engines fail, it is possible to land in a paddy field somewhere given the right conditions,” the retired officer said.

The Mi-17 V5 is a “forgiving” aircraft — it is very sturdy and robust, and can fly in extreme circumstances. “The most likely reason for the crash could be foggy weather which reduced visibility… Looking at the disintegration pattern, it appears, the chopper probably hit a tree trunk or its rotor got entangled in overhead cables,” a source said.

09/12/21 Pranav Mukul , Man Aman Singh Chhina/Indian Express


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