Pune: A helicopter crash near Lavale, Bavdhan on October 2 (Wednesday) morning that claimed the lives of three people, including the pilot, is being attributed to human error, according to aviation experts.
The accident occurred within minutes of takeoff, reportedly due to poor visibility conditions.
On the morning of the crash, visibility near the Lavale area was extremely low due to dense fog, yet the pilot proceeded with the takeoff from the Oxford Golf Club's helipad.
Aviation experts suggest that the pilot lost his sense of direction soon after liftoff, leading to the helicopter crashing just three to four minutes later.
On Thursday, teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) visited the crash site and the helipad from where the helicopter had taken off.
During the investigation, authorities recovered two crucial devices: the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. These devices were sent to Delhi for further analysis, which is expected to provide a clearer understanding of the crash’s cause.
According to initial reports from experts, the crash appears to have been a result of the pilot’s decision to fly despite the low visibility. If the flight had been delayed until the fog cleared, the tragedy could have been avoided.
"Frequent accidents in a specific area warrant a thorough review of the airspace regulations. Any changes at the helipad site should also be inspected to prevent future incidents," said Dhairyasheel Vandekar, an aviation expert.
Why the Helicopter Crashed:
Despite zero visibility, the pilot proceeded with the takeoff.
Since the pilot was based in Delhi, he was not very familiar with the geographical terrain around the helipad.
After reaching a height of around 100 feet, the helicopter's nose tilted downward to move forward.
There was a heavy presence of fog in the valley near the helipad during takeoff.
Due to the thick fog, the pilot could not see the hill ahead.
The fast-moving helicopter collided with the hill and then crashed into the valley.
