What led to IAF chopper crash that left Gen Rawat, 11 others dead? Was there any sabotage?

New Delhi: The team investigating the IAF chopper crash that left chief of defence staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and 11 others dead has ruled out sabotage and blamed pilot error for the fatal accident.

“The accident was a result of entry into clouds due to an unexpected change in weather conditions in the valley. This led to spatial disorientation of the pilot resulting in a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT),” the team found after analyzing the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder.

CFIT occurs when an airworthy aircraft, while under the complete control of the pilot, is inadvertently flown into terrain, water, or an obstacle.

A Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika, and 12 other armed forces personnel – from the Sulur Air Force base in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore to the Defence Staff Services Colleges in Wellington, had crashed on December 8 last year.

The crash killed CDS Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 others. Group Captain Varun Singh, a passenger on the chopper, miraculously survived the crash only to die of severe burn injuries a few days later.

The Tri-Services Court of Inquiry, led by the country’s top helicopter pilot Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, into the Mi-17 V5 accident has submitted its preliminary findings. The Court of Inquiry ruled out mechanical failure, sabotage, or negligence as a cause of the accident.

“Based on its findings, the Court of Inquiry has made certain recommendations that are being reviewed,” it said. 

According to the IATA (International Air Transport Association), the term refers to accidents in which in-flight collisions with terrain, water, or another obstacle occur without indication of loss of control.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration says CFIT is ”…an unintentional collision with terrain (ground, mountain, body of water, or an obstacle) while an aircraft is under positive control.”

The critical distinction in such incidents is the fact the aircraft is under the control of the flight crew.