New Delhi/Mumbai: Pilots' lack of familiarisation with automatic flight control systems was one of the contributing factors that led to Pawan Hans' Sikorsky helicopter crash that killed four people off the Mumbai coast in June last year, according to an investigation report that has also called for various corrective measures.
In its final report on the accident involving Sikorsky S-76D helicopter that was operated by Pawan Hans, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has also flagged the passenger safety briefing video did not provide correct guidance for inflation of life jackets.
Out of the seven people who were onboard the chopper, the report said that all of them evacuated from the helicopter but only five could inflate the life jackets.
The helicopter was to operate a crew change sortie to ONGC-operated Sagar Kiran Rig in Mumbai off-shore.
The accident happened on June 28, 2022, as the helicopter entered into uncontrolled flight during its final approach and fell into the sea.
According to the AAIB, there was undesired aggressive nose up maneuver coupled with full lowering of the collective by pilot flying, which resulted in steep autorotative descent at near zero speed leading to impact with sea.
The AAIB cited "lack of familiarisation and proficiency on use of the aircraft's AFCS (Automatic Flight Control Systems), which led to inappropriate handling of controls" as one of the contributing factors for the accident.
Another contributing factor was the absence of monitoring by pilot due to involvement with switching-off of weather radar during crucial phase of flight leading to delayed take-over in emergency.
Further, it noted that the description of life jacket in passenger safety briefing card approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was not matching the type of life jacket that was placed on the helicopter.
22/08/2023 PTI/Business Standard
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
0 comments:
Post a Comment