NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed on Wednesday during a flood relief operation in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district due to a technical issue, marking yet another incident in a series of accidents involving the aircraft in 2023.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter was forced to land in a waterlogged area near Nayagaon village in Muzaffarpur district after experiencing significant engine failure. All four persons on board were unharmed, as the pilot showed the presence of mind and landed the helicopter in shallow water, as stated by Principal Secretary of Disaster Management, Pratyaya Amrit.
This incident marks the second mishap involving the ALH in just a month. In September, a Coast Guard ALH ditched in the sea off the Gujarat coast while responding to a medical evacuation request, prompting the Coast Guard to temporarily ground its fleet.
Throughout 2023, the Indian armed forces have had to ground their fleet of approximately 330 twin-engine ALHs multiple times following four major accidents. The Indian Army operates the largest share, with 96 ALHs and 75 armed versions called Rudra, while the Air Force has around 70.
The most severe incident occurred on May 4, when two Indian Army pilots were killed in an ALH crash in Jammu and Kashmir due to a reported “loss of power,” leading to the grounding of the Army’s 170 ALHs for comprehensive safety checks.
In light of these safety concerns, specialist teams from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which manufactures the helicopters, conducted extensive inspections and identified issues related to control rod failure and hydraulic systems. The ALH’s control rod is crucial for transmitting power from the engines to the rotors and ensuring pilot control over the aircraft’s flight.
In response to these incidents, HAL has initiated the replacement of aluminum control rods with steel ones in certain helicopters and has implemented special checks every 100 flight hours, down from the previous 300-hour interval.
Despite these challenges, the Cabinet Committee on Security has approved a proposal for the acquisition of 34 new ALH Dhruv helicopters, with plans to induct nine into the Indian Coast Guard and 25 for the Indian Army.
The Dhruv ALH has faced scrutiny in the past, including a diplomatic issue with Ecuador, which grounded its fleet of Indian-made helicopters due to safety concerns. However, the helicopter’s MK III variant is currently undergoing trials in Argentina, with promising feedback from Argentinian pilots.
The ALH MK III features numerous upgrades, including a Shakti engine developed in collaboration with Safran, advanced maritime patrol radar, and improved electronic warfare capabilities.
