Airliners-India

karatecatman

www.deccanherald.com/content/32880/ecuadoran-chopper-crashes-during-military.html
Ecuadoran chopper crashes during military parade

Quito, Oct 28, (AFP):
An Indian-made Dhruv helicopter crashed here during a military parade injuring its two pilots and prompting authorities to ground another six recently purchased Dhruv choppers.

The helicopter was flying in formation with two other choppers over an air force base near Quito when it suddenly veered off course and slammed to the ground, witnesses said. "The two crew members managed to get out by their own means and were taken to hospital. Their condition is apparently good," air force general Leonardo Barreiro told reporters.

He said the chopper was destroyed in the accident, which is under investigation. The crew members were both trained in India. The remaining six Dhruv helicopter bought from India six months ago for USD 45 million "have been grounded for the moment until the investigation is finished," the presidential office said in a statement. The helicopters include one used by President Rafael Correa.

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vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1181 Location: BOM

BAD.

Would this be the first crash of a Dhruv?

- Vivek
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Boeing makes planes. Airbus makes videogames!

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 420 Location: Bangalore

During the 2007 Aero India rehearsals, a Dhruv helicopter, that was part of the Sarang team, crashed killing 1 and wounding another. The cause was attributed to pilot error.

shivendrashukla · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:31 pm Post subject:

Some pics of the crash is visible here

http://livefist.blogspot.com/

Shivendra

karatecatman · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:14 am Post subject:

Ecuador may return Indian helicopters after crash
29/10/2009

MOSCOW, October 29 (RIA Novosti) - Ecuador could return six helicopters recently bought from an Indian company after one of the aircraft crashed at an air show last week, the Unverso newspaper reported on Thursday.

One of the seven Dhruv combat helicopters Ecuador had purchased from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited crashed during an air show in the Ecuadoran capital, Quito, last Saturday, injuring the pilot and co-pilot.

Ecuadoran Air Force chief Rodrigo Bohorquez was quoted as saying the contract allowed the return in the event of an irreparable fault.

A special commission is investigating the accident.

The rearmament of the Ecuadoran Air Force was announced in August. The Latin American country's government said it was ready to buy aircraft from Brazil and South Africa. In late September, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said combat aircraft from any nations, be it Venezuela, Colombia, the United States or Israel, would be welcome as gifts.

Venezuela has already given Ecuador six Mirage-50 planes it had substituted with more advanced Russian Sukhoi jets. Last year, Ecuador also received three Russian Mi-17 helicopters to carry out defense and patrol missions.

After Moscow talks between President Dmitry Medvedev and Correa on Thursday a contract was signed on the delivery of two Mi-171E helicopters.
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एअर इंडिया AIR INDIA Fly DVD --- Desh VIDESH Desh

HAWK21M · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:40 am Post subject:

One has to await the cause of the crash....Was it a mechanical fault or error.
regds
MEL.
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shivendrashukla · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject:

Video of the crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_aqxH8hhx4

Cheers
shivendra

HamiltonAir · Member Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 796 Location: Bangalore

That was scary. Good thing the pilots walked away alive.
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HamiltonAir