New Delhi: A day after an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III of the Indian Coast Guard crashed on the Porbandar airport runway during a routine training sortie, the Indian Armed Forces Monday grounded their entire fleet of ALH Mk-IIIs.
The crash claimed the lives of two pilots and one aircrew diver who were on board.
The latest incident follows a crash involving the Indian Coast Guard’s ALH Mk-III helicopter into the Arabian Sea off Porbandar on 2 September last year, which also resulted in the deaths of three crew members. While the bodies of the pilot and a diver were recovered soon after the incident, the mortal remains of the third crew member were only recovered after more than a month.
The three forces, along with the Indian Coast Guard, collectively operate 330 ALH aircraft. Over the years, ALHs have been involved in several crashes. One of the deadliest incidents, which occurred in 2019, involved an ALH Dhruv. Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, who was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command at the time, miraculously survived after the helicopter carrying him and seven others crash-landed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch region, as reported earlier by ThePrint.
ThePrint explains what grounding of aircraft fleet means, and how it is done.
When an aircraft fleet is grounded temporarily, a preliminary investigation is conducted to identify any common issues. Grounding is a significant decision that can directly affect operations of the armed forces. During the investigation, authorities determine whether servicing timelines need to be adjusted or if parts require replacement. The aircraft is only permitted to fly again after the necessary changes are implemented.
If a decision to replace parts is made, manufacture and delivery of the required components can take time. The replacement of parts is then carried out in a phased manner in accordance with delivery schedules. In the interim, the fleet undergoes more frequent checks to ensure that no mishaps occur.
The current grounding of the fleet comes after the ALH fleet has been grounded multiple times in 2023 following four crashes. During previous groundings, issues concerning hydraulics and control rod failure were identified. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) decided to replace aluminium rods with steel rods to address the problem.
In March last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) signed two contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru for the acquisition of 34 ALH Dhruv Mk-IIIs along with operational role equipment for the Indian Army (25 ALHs) and the Indian Coast Guard (9 ALHs).
The indigenously designed and developed ALH Dhruv is a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission, new-generation helicopter in the 5.5-tonne weight class. According to HAL, ALH Dhruv is type-certified for military operations by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and for civil operations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Depending on the service operating the aircraft, Mk-IIIs are used for search and rescue, troop transportation, internal cargo, reconnaissance/casualty evacuation, maritime surveillance, and cargo and personnel transportation. They are also utilised for pollution response using external cargo-carrying capability and medical casualty evacuation.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)