Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of: Defence

DEPARTMENT OF: DEFENCE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2598
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015
Crashes Involving Pawan Hans helicopters

2598. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar 

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) the number of Pawan Hans helicopter crashes that took place in the last two years and the casualties and injuries caused therefor;

(b) whether inquiry was conducted to investigate the reasons of these crashes, if so, the details thereof;

(c) the steps taken by the Ministry to check the growing number of mishaps involving Pawan Hans helicopters; and

(d) whether Government has audited the safety of Pawan Hans helicopters in the wake of these crashes, if so, the details thereof?

Answer
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
(SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

(a) Since 2013 and till date four accidents of helicopters of Pawan Hans Limited have taken place in which five persons died and seven persons suffered minor injuries.

(b) The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of Ministry of Civil Aviation conducts investigation of all accidents and serious incidents. In one of the accident involving Helicopter VT-PHZ at Uttarakhand on 28.06.2013, the AAIB, inter-alia, found that Pilot-in-Command, while carrying out approach and landing under strong tail wind conditions, could not control the high rate of descent with the available reserve power. In the other three cases, the investigation is yet to be completed.

(c) Accident / incident data is regularly analyzed and based on the analysis, Air Safety Circulars are issued by Ministry of Civil Aviation to bring important observations / findings to the notice of the operators to avoid the recurrence of accidents / incidents.

(d) Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) team has conducted the audit of Pawan Hans Operations of Civil Aviation at Delhi and Mumbai bases in November-December 2015. Further, Safety audits have also been conducted periodically.

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