Daijiworld Media Network - Dehradun
Dehradun, Jul 20: In a tragic helicopter crash that claimed six lives in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on May 8, the main rotor blade of the chopper struck an overhead fibre cable before the aircraft lost control and plunged down a hillside, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed in its preliminary report released on Saturday.
The ill-fated Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aerotrans Services Pvt Ltd, crashed just 24 minutes after take-off from the Kharsali helipad. The 17-year-old aircraft, manufactured in 2008 and powered by a Rolls Royce engine, was carrying six people — five of whom, including the pilot, died. One passenger survived with serious injuries.
According to the five-page AAIB report, the helicopter, which took off at 8:11 am, was flying normally for about 20 minutes. It then began descending from its assigned altitude, likely in preparation for an emergency landing.
“Initially, the pilot attempted to land on the Uttarkashi-Gangotri Road (NH 34) near Gangnani. During the landing attempt, the main rotor blade of the helicopter hit an overhead fibre cable that runs parallel to the road,” the report stated. The impact also damaged roadside metallic barricades.
Failing to land safely, the chopper spiralled down the hillside and came to a halt after hitting a tree, approximately 250 feet deep into a gorge. Despite the severity of the crash, there was no fire, the report confirmed.
Both the US National Transportation Safety Board and Canada's Transportation Safety Board have assigned accredited representatives and technical advisors to assist with the ongoing investigation.
The AAIB noted that coordination with these international bodies is ongoing to determine the exact root cause of the tragic accident.