Following the fatal Coast Guard helicopter crash that claimed the lives of three personnel, 330 domestic Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) have been grounded. The helicopter apparently lost control just seconds before impact in this January 5, 2025, mishap that happened during a training mission in Porbandar, Gujarat.
The transmission system is the subject of preliminary studies as a possible contributor to this loss of control, which has caused serious fleet safety concerns.
The manufacturer of these helicopters, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has ordered that all ALHs stay grounded in the wake of this occurrence until the reason of the crash has been fully determined.
This choice is a component of a continuous endeavor to guarantee dependability and safety in the fleet, which has been involved in several collisions in recent years. Interestingly, between 2004 and 2024, there were nine significant ALH mishaps, some of which were ascribed to human error and others to technological issues.
The grounding follows previous incidents in which similar safety concerns, such as allegations of gearbox failures and power outages, led to the fleet being temporarily grounded for inspections.
An expert team is presently looking into the circumstances underlying the latest crash, and HAL has stated its commitment to finding a quick and safe solution to these problems.
The fleet of Advanced Light Helicopters plays vital roles in a number of activities, such as rescue and maritime surveillance. However, in order to stop more mishaps and guarantee that these helicopters can continue to operate efficiently without sacrificing safety, a number of incidents have led to demands for independent investigations of their design and operating safety.
