PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - ALH Dhruv problems: Helicopters crashes HAL doesn't want you to know about
Old 25th Feb 2017, 03:59
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Echo419
 
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Indian Manufacturer of Helicopter lies about safety concerns

I came across this article from India where the manufacturer of the helicopter (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) kept lying about the safety issues with its helicopter. It resulted in a series of crashes over the years in India and Ecuador.


ALH Dhruv problems: Helicopter crashes HAL wants you to forget | George Kottakal

Question 1: How big is the problem of cyclic saturation with a rigid rotor system? Can a rotor actually break mid-air because of it?

Question 2: Is there a Standard Operating Procedure when one enters into a situation of cyclic saturation? The correct response according to some is to lower the collective and then turning cyclic to the right. But that sounds a bit vague.

Question 3: There is mention of a warning system that would provide visual and audio warnings. How long would it take to retrofit one into said chopper?

On a separate note, I came across 2 different versions for the same crash ( Ecuador FAE 603 ALH Dhruv)

Version 1: HAL manufacturer says that the crash took place due to Pilot Associated Oscillations (Human error).

India looks at European safety certification for Dhruv choppers | Business Standard News


Version 2: Military Accident Investigation Board says that crash took place due to the presence of oscillations as the autopilot had malfunctioned.


Tres naves Dhruv dejarán de volar en Ecuador

Are they both right? Is one of them lying?
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