Following a recent accident involving a Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH Mk-III), the Indian Coast Guard has mandated a comprehensive safety inspection of its entire ALH fleet. The inspection will focus on the flying controls and transmission systems, and as a precaution, the fleet has been temporarily grounded.
The accident, which occurred near Porbandar, Gujarat, saw a Dhruv helicopter (Tail Number CG 863) plunge nose-first into the Arabian Sea. Preliminary investigations indicate a critical failure in the helicopter's flying control system, leading to the crash.
This incident is not the first safety concern associated with the Dhruv fleet. Last year, the fleet faced multiple groundings due to design issues, particularly related to the collective control rod, a vital component for pilot control. Any malfunction in these rods can have catastrophic consequences.
To mitigate this risk, the Coast Guard has replaced the collective control rod and other critical rods (lateral and longitudinal) in all military ALHs with steel components, offering superior strength and reliability compared to the previous aluminum ones.
The one-time safety inspection is a proactive measure taken by the Coast Guard to guarantee the safety and operational readiness of its ALH fleet. Once inspections are complete and necessary corrective measures are taken, the fleet is expected to resume its duties.
