Indian Ministry of Defence, The Dhruv Helicopters of Army Aviation have been grounded with effect from November 25, 2005. This was done as a precautionary measure after Dhruv helicopter J-4054 belonging to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) crashed due to loss of Tail Rotor Control near Siripuram, 150 km from Hyderabad.
The accident was investigated by a Board of Inquiry ordered by the HAL. Based on the recommendations of the Board of Inquiry, it was decided to carry out evaluation flights on selected Dhruv helicopters by experimental test pilots of the HAL and Army Aviation under the aegis of HAL.
Two Army Aviation Dhruv helicopters Z-1110 and Z-1116 were flown for 31.30 and 30.45 hours respectively for these evaluation flights. Based on the report of these evaluation flights, Regional Centre of Military Airworthiness has laid down following modification/rectifications to be incorporated by the HAL:
-Stiffening of Tail Boom attachment
-Installation of Tail Rotor Vibration monitoring unit
-Stiffening of Vertical Fin front spar
-Modification of Flight Data Recorder
-Tail Gear Box housing modification
-New Tail Rotor blades to be subjected to qualification testing before installation.
The HAL is in the process of executing the above modifications / rectifications in a phased manner.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee in a written reply to Shri Pyarelal Khandelwal in Rajya Sabha today .
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