Pilot error caused YSR helicopter crash: Probe report
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 21, 2010
Rajshekhar Reddy (File Photo)
The inquiry commission probing the circumstances surrounding the death of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Readdy has concluded in its report that the helicopter crash that took the life of Mr. Reddy was caused by the error of pilots.
The report said, pilots lost the control over the helicopter and were busy in locating the flight manual for vital six minutes before the crash.
The four member committee that conducted the inquiry submitted its report to the government on Wednesday. The inquiry report concluded: 'probable' cause of the accident was that it "occurred due to loss of control resulting in uncontrolled descent at a very high speed in the terrain due to entry into severe downward draught".
The inquiry committee was headed by Mr. SK Tyagi, Chief of Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited.
The report said that the crew flew the helicopter under the instrument flying condition even though their flight plan was cleared for Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
The crew noticed a snag and "was engrossed for vital six minutes before the impact in searching for the relevant checklist from the Flight Manual".
"This distracted their attention from the prevailing poor visibility weather conditions thus leading into the loss of situational awareness," said the report.
Reddy, his special secretary P Subramaniam, Chief Security Officer ASC Weseley, and the two pilots Groupp Capt SK Bhatia and Capt MS Reddy, were killed when the Bell 430 helicopter of the state government crashed in dense jungles of Nalamalla hills on 2nd September last year.
