The Indian Air Force (IAF) has temporarily restricted flights of its Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALH) following an emergency landing in Bihar on October 2nd. The helicopter, deployed for flood relief operations, was forced to land in water due to a technical failure.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing cracks in the helicopter's windows and damage to the blades and other components, indicating the severity of the situation that prompted the pilot to execute the precautionary landing. Local residents swiftly responded with boats, rescuing the personnel and retrieving relief materials from the aircraft.
This incident follows a similar occurrence in September where a Coast Guard ALH crashed in the Arabian Sea, leading to the grounding of their entire ALH fleet for safety inspections. These events raise concerns about the helicopter's reliability, despite recent safety upgrades implemented by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after a series of accidents last year.
The IAF has currently limited ALH operations to essential tasks while investigations into the cause of the latest failure are underway. A senior official assured that normal flight operations will resume soon.
The Dhruv ALH, a twin-engine multi-role helicopter, has been involved in approximately 15 accidents over the past five years. A significant design issue with the helicopter's booster control rods, which are crucial for flight control, was identified as a contributing factor in previous incidents. HAL undertook a comprehensive program to replace these rods with a redesigned steel version across the entire ALH fleet, a process that has now been completed.
These recent incidents highlight the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety and reliability of the Dhruv helicopter, a critical asset for India's armed forces.
