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1.1 History of Flight
Border Security Force (BSF) Chetak Helicopter VT-EQL met with an
accident at Fatehpur village, near Mount Abu, Rajasthan, while operating flight
from Gandhinagar, Gujarat to Mandore, Rajasthan at 0945 UTC on 13.05.2011.
There were four persons on board which included Pilot in Command, Co- Pilot,
one Engineer and a BSF Official.
The Crew of the helicopter filed Flight Plan for direct routing from
Gandhinagar to Mandore for an altitude of 1500 ft AGL. The telephonic clearance
was taken from Area Control land line for a VFR flight. The Helicopter departed
from Gandhinagar at 0850 UTC. ATC advised the pilot of the helicopter VT-EQL to
maintain the preferred altitude of 1500 feet AGL on QNH 1005 hpa.
He was further advised to report 30 miles out. Pilot intimated estimates
as FIR 1030 UTC and ETA destination 1155 UTC. Then the estimates were passed
on to FIC at 30 miles. ATCO directed the pilot of the helicopter to change over to
the frequency 123.75 MHz as the pilot did not reply, ATCO requested another
aircraft to intimate VT-EQL to establish contact with Control on 123.75MHz.
Soon after, the pilot was heard calling on 123.75 MHz. After being released by
Approach Control, Pilot reported his position 30 NM from AAE 1500 feet on QNH
1005 HPA. He did not report any abnormality in operations of helicopter. The
helicopter remained in contact with ACC on frequency 123.75 MHz till 0907 UTC
reporting at 30NM on radial 007 AAE. At time 0908 UTC the helicopter called Jet
Airways Aircraft 2065 to relay the position of 30NM on radial 007 AAE to
Ahmedabad ACC. On Route Radar, the helicopter painted till 0911 UTC and then
the target dropped off at a distance of approx 37 NM from AAE.
The Chetak helicopter VT-EQL was on route R007 from South to North and
developed serious defect in Main Rotor System. As reported by the Eye-witness,
a local farmer, sitting outside his hut and having direct view of the helicopter, the
helicopter was producing intermittent hitting sound. After passing over the hut,
it executed a sudden right turn and fell squarely on the ground and burst into