Probe finds pilot error caused Dhruv crash in Ecuador

In a big relief to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, pilot error was found to have caused the crash of the defence PSU's Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) "Dhruv" in Ecuador in October.

In a big relief to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, pilot error was found to have caused the crash of the defence PSU's Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) "Dhruv" in Ecuador in October, a probe conducted in the US and India into the mishap has revealed.

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The crash during a military parade on October 28 in the South American country, injuring two pilots, was considered a major setback to India's efforts to market its indigenous helicopters overseas.

The Ecuadorian Air Force, which bought five Dhruvs from the Bangalore-headquartered HAL, had grounded the entire fleet till the probe it ordered into the mishap was completed.

However, the probe findings have come as a big relief for HAL, which has identified South America as one of the key export markets for Dhruv.

The probe revealed "over-manoeuvre of the pilot" led to the crash.

"The pilot had taken a very deep left turn. As he took the left turn, he went down in height and didn't have sufficient time to recover and hit the ground", a senior HAL official told PTI on condition of anonymity.