Pawan Hans chopper crash: Flight data recorder yet to be decoded

Data from the flight data recorder will be matched with the findings from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the black box which has been decoded.

A month after a Pawan Hans helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea, the preliminary report of the accident has been delayed because the flight data recorder (FDR), recovered from the debris, is yet to be decoded.

The Pawan Hans helicopter crashed on January 13, killing five ONGC deputy general managers and two pilots. (HT File)

Data from the FDR will be matched with the findings from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the black box which has been decoded.

The FDR is a device that stores the recent history of a flight in a digital form. This is done by recording dozens of parameters of the flight. The CVR stores the recent history of sounds produced in the cockpit, including conversation between pilots.

A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was in Mumbai on Tuesday for investigation. While AAIB chief BS Rai was not available for comment, officials said the preliminary report would be released once the FDR software is decoded.

An official from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) said that their officials are double checking the Pawan Hans aircraft after its maintenance work was over.

This, the officer said is being done to obtain independent findings of both the CVR and FDR after which they will be studied and a preliminary report will be prepared. A preliminary report has never been issued by authorities in any accident.

The Pawan Hans helicopter crashed on January 13, killing five ONGC deputy general managers and two pilots.