Article Posted on : - Dec 15, 2009

A file photo.

BANGALORE (BNS): HAL's in-depth probe has revealed pilot error as the cause of the Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) "Dhruv's" crash in Ecuador in October.

The probe conducted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the US and India has come up as a great relief to the defence PSU.

The crash occurred on October 28 during an Ecuadorian Air Force military parade. The Dhruv helicopters were immediately grounded and an enquiry was ordered after the crash which led to the injury of two pilots.

The probe revealed "over-manoeuvre of the pilot" led to the crash. ""The pilot had taken a very deep left turn and therefore he went down and didn't had sufficient time to recover," said to a senior HAL official, according to a PTI report.

The Ecuadorian Air Force has bought five Dhruv helicopters from HAL, which has identified South America as one of the key export markets for Dhruv.

According to HAL, it can't make the probe results public because it has a non-disclosure agreement with Ecuadorian Air Force.