IAF helicopter crash: No technical snag or sabotage, bad weather identified as major cause

The incident, called Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) due to any technical fault or sabotage and bad weather, is not believed to have been identified as the major cause of I’s accident.Air Force helicopter that killed CDS General Bipin Rawat near Coonoor and 13 others, people familiar with the development said on Wednesday.

Air Chiefs Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary and Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, who led the tri-services investigation into the accident, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh apprised of the findings Regarding the investigation on Wednesday.

Those cited above said investigators ruled out any possibility of a technical fault or sabotage in the crash. Two-engined Mi-17V5 helicopter of Russian origin Which was flying from Sulur airbase to Wellington on 8 December.

Reading: General Bipin Rawat accident investigation – what the investigators will see

According to experts, CFIT refers to the incident when an aircraft under control is piloted on land, water or other terrain due to bad weather or pilot error.

CFIT generally occurs in bad weather conditions or when a flight is taking off.

no official comment on investigation report Either by the Indian Air Force or by the Ministry of Defence.

According to the IATA (International Air Transport Association), CFIT refers to accidents in which there was a collision with terrain, water or an obstacle without indicating loss of control of the aircraft.

“The key difference in these types of accidents is that the aircraft is under the control of the flight crew,” it said.

The US government’s Federal Aviation Administration described CFIT as an inadvertent collision with terrain (ground, mountain, a body of water, or an obstacle) while an aircraft is under positive control.

“Too often, the pilot or crew is unaware of an impending disaster until it is too late,” it said.

The people quoted above said that sudden cloud cover can lead to CFIT.

“Sometimes, a pilot can lose situational awareness when there is a visual disturbance,” said an aviation expert.

Visuals of helicopter captured by locals Before the accident, it was learned that the helicopter was flying at a low altitude.

The helicopter crashed in Wellington about eight minutes before its scheduled landing.

People said the investigation team investigated all possible scenarios of the crash, including possible human error or whether it was a case of disorientation by the crew while the helicopter was preparing for landing.

The 13 others included General Rawat’s wife Madhulika, his defense advisor Brigadier LS Lidder, Staff Officer to the Chief of Defense Staff Lt Col Harjinder Singh and respected pilot Group Captain Varun Singh. Killed in an accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

Air Marshal Singh, led investigation team, presently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Bengaluru-headquartered Training Command of the IAF.

He is considered one of the best air accident investigators in the country.

Prior to taking over the reins of Training Command, the Air Marshal was Director General (Inspection and Security) at Air Headquarters and developed various protocols for flight safety while in office.

Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar and several senior officials of the ministry were present at that time. Air Force officials briefed the Defense Minister.

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