Neelam Mathews

Customers for the civil variants of the Indian Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III Dhruv are closely monitoring the investigation into a fatal accident involving a military version of the rotorcraft on January 5. The crash was the second fatal accident with a military-configured Dhruv rotorcraft operated by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
According to a short statement from the ICG, the latest Dhruv accident happened during a training flight at Porbandar Airport in the western state of Gujarat. Two pilots and an ICG diver were killed, but no further details have been released about the accident that is now being investigated by the government’s Board of Inquiry.
Dhruv manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) did not respond to questions about reports that the company is examining possible flight control failure. Videos <a href="https://x.com/NewIndianXpress/status/1875890492342182397">posted on social media</a> by The New Indian Express&nbsp;show the helicopter in flames to the side of the main runway.
Government-owned HAL is working on type certification of the civil version of the Dhruv with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a process expected to take another 18 months. Launch customers for this aircraft include offshore operator Pawan Hans, which is owned by the country’s Oil and Natural Gas Commission.
The civil variant features a more powerful Shakti engine, produced jointly by HAL and France’s Safran as a derivative of the Ardiden 1H1 turboshaft. It will be able to carry between nine and 14 people, with features including floats and a glass cockpit.
“Design of this new civil variant of the ALH will need to be screened by HAL and DGCA thoroughly to ensure issues plaguing military variants are not carried forward to the offshore environment where safety, operational tempo, and revenue generation are critical for survival,” veteran Indian Navy test pilot K.P. Sanjeev Kumar told AIN.
According to Kumar, there has been a high failure rate of key Dhruv components and, in his view, an independent investigation should be conducted. He told AIN that between 12 and 14 main gear boxes have had to be withdrawn from service on the existing ICG fleet, which has also experienced hydraulic and other failures in the powertrain and flight controls.

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