Third Coast Guard chopper crash in less than 2 years: why are there repeated concerns over HAL’s indigenous military helicopter?

Earlier in March 2023, an ALH of the Coast Guard crashed shortly after take-off in Kochi. There were no fatalities.

What safety concerns about the helicopters have these crashes raised?

The specific causes of the Coast Guard ALH crashes remain under investigation.

The Coast Guard has initiated Boards of Inquiry to determine the reasons for these incidents, with focus on aspects such as the helicopter’s flying controls and transmission systems.

Military aviation veterans have expressed concern over the safety record of the helicopter, designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), and sought independent inquiries into the crashes.

Each of the crashes has been followed by safety audits and temporary groundings in order to carry out detailed inspections. Following Sunday’s crash, the entire fleet of around 300 ALH helicopters has been grounded for safety checks.

Issues identified in the past include design flaws, particularly with the booster control rods, which could affect control over the helicopter. HAL had initiated a replacement program, installing more durable steel rods in newer ALH models.

Have there been crashes of other variants of ALH too?

There have been crashes in the past involving the ALH Rudra WSI, the attack helicopter version of the platform, as well as the ALH in service with the Army.

In January 2021, an Army ALH crashed due to a technical snag near Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir, close to the border with Punjab.

In August that year, an ALH Rudra crashed into the water near Ranjit Sagar Dam in Pathankot, Punjab, killing both pilots whose remains were discovered after a long and difficult search by divers from the Indian Navy.

In October 2022, an ALH Rudra crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing two pilots and three soldiers on board. And in May 2023, an Army ALH crashed in Kishtwar in J&K killing a soldier on board.

What are the key elements of the design of the HAL ALH?

The design and development of the HAL Dhruv started in 1984, with the aim of replacing the aging fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters from the inventory of the defence services. Dhruv was meant to be a multi-role, multi-mission helicopter.

Significant portions of the aircraft, including the airframe, are manufactured in India. While the overall design is indigenous, certain critical components like the engines (the Shakti engines, which are a joint development with Turbomeca, now Safran Helicopter Engines, of France), some avionics, and a few other systems were initially sourced from abroad or developed in collaboration with foreign companies.

The level of indigenisation has increased over time, with more parts and systems being produced in India.

The ALH Dhruv has received certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is an affirmation of its capabilities meeting international standards.

HAL has continuously worked on indigenous upgrades and variants of the ALH, enhancing its capabilities through local research and development.