2009 Andhra Pradesh helicopter crash

Aviation disaster in India February 2017 February 2017 VT-APG (13992117974).jpg 2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash VT-APG, the helicopter involved in the accident 2 September 2009 Spatial disorientation resulting from a mechanical failure, pilot error Occurrence Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India Bell 430 VT-APG Andhra Pradesh Government Begumpet airport, India Anuppalle helipad 5 5 0 The 2009 Andhra Pradesh helicopter crash occurred on 2 September 2009 near Rudrakonda Hill, 40 nmi km from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India. The helicopter was a Bell 430 helicopter owned by the Andhra Pradesh Government, and registered VT-APG. Fatalities included Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh among others.http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-42189320090903 Reuters Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S.R. Reddy missing, damaged helicopter found 3 September 2009 3 September 2009 13 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100113082512/http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-42189320090903 dead http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8235115.stm BBC News India politician killed in crash 3 September 2009 3 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090930094624/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8235115.stm 30 September 2009 live Accident The Puli 430 helicopter took off from Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, and soon encountered bad weather. The official accident report states that the aircraft's weather radar was red, meaning that the weather was extreme.September 2025 The flight crew decided to fly slightly left of their planned route.September 2025 The pilots soon noticed that the weather was getting worse, and agreed that they would turn left after crossing Krishna River. Begumpet and Shamshabad Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 9:02 am IST while it was passing through the dense Nallamala Forest area.September 2025 Shortly after 09:20 am IST, the flight crew encountered a problem with the transmission oil pressure. The pilots became engaged in finding out emergency checklist procedures for the transmission oil pressure, but were unsuccessful.September 2025 Soon after, the co-pilot continually called out "go around", likely indicating that he thought the aircraft would soon crash into something. During the last 14 seconds, the rate of descent was extremely high. Thereafter the helicopter crashed due to loss of control resulting in high rate of descent in down draught. The helicopter impacted the ground in a steep left bank and all occupants on board died due to crash injuries.http://dgca.gov.in/accident/reports/VT-APG.pdf Report on Accident to Andhra Pradesh Government Bell 430 Helicopter VT-APG at Rodrakodu in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh on 02.09.2009 Chennai, India The Hindu 6 June 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131204075150/http://dgca.gov.in/accident/reports/VT-APG.pdf 4 December 2013 Aftermath The state government of Andhra Pradesh and the Government of India launched one of the largest search and rescue operations in the history of the country. The state's security officials mentioned that bad weather was hindering the search and rescue efforts. Krishnakumar P. Press Trust of India Rains, not Maoists, major hurdle in YSR search-ops http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/02/rains-not-maoists-major-hurdle-in-ysr-search-ops.htm 2 September 2009 Rediff 10 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091022063648/http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/02/rains-not-maoists-major-hurdle-in-ysr-search-ops.htm 22 October 2009 live The Home Ministry of India dispatched 5000 CRPF soldiers for the operation5000 CRPF personnel involved in search for Andhra CM http://www.indianexpress.com/news/5000-crpf-personnel-involved-in-search-for-andhra-cm/511476/ 2 September 2009 The Indian Express 10 September 2009http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/Andhra-CMs-fate-uncertain-IAF-deploys-Sukhoi-to-locate-YSRs-chopper/articleshow/4965278.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20101212220320/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/Andhra-CMs-fate-uncertain-IAF-deploys-Sukhoi-to-locate-YSRs-chopper/articleshow/4965278.cms 12 December 2010 Andhra CM's fate uncertain, IAF deploys Sukhoi to locate YSR's chopper 2 September 2009 The Economic Times 2 September 2009 dead while the Defence Ministry of India ordered the Indian Air Force to comb the area using low altitude planes and the Sukhoi-30MKI equipped with thermal imaging systems.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Panic-anxiety-grips-YSRs-followers-/articleshow/4964628.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20090906013022/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Panic-anxiety-grips-YSRs-followers-/articleshow/4964628.cms 6 September 2009 Panic, anxiety grips YSR's followers 2 September 2009 The Times of India 2 September 2009 dead In addition, police personnel from six districts were involved in the ground search. Andhra Pradesh's elite anti-Naxal troops, Greyhounds, were also deployed in the area, owing to their extreme familiarity with the jungle terrain of the area. Local tribal residents from this part of the state assisted with the search mission. Patrol parties also combed the Krishna River for the remains of the helicopter.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Massive-rescue-operation-on-to-trace-Andhra-CMs-chopper/articleshow/4965499.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20110811072047/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-02/india/28095559_1_su-30mki-sukhoi-night-vision-devices live 11 August 2011 Massive rescue operation on to trace Andhra CM's chopper 2 September 2009 The Times of India 2 September 2009 ISRO's RISAT-2 satellite was also deployed to search the area, RISAT to search for YSR http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article13970.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20120825051104/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article13970.ece dead 25 August 2012 2 September 2009 The Hindu 10 September 2009 Chennai, India but the 41 high-resolution images of the area were unable to trace the helicopter. ISRO aircraft takes satellite images to trace YSR http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/ISRO-aircraft-takes-satellite-images-to-trace-YSR-/articleshow/4965991.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20090905171528/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/ISRO-aircraft-takes-satellite-images-to-trace-YSR-/articleshow/4965991.cms 5 September 2009 3 September 2009 The Economic Times 10 September 2009 dead The wreckage of the helicopter was finally spotted by an IAF Mi-8 helicopter at 08:20 am IST the following day, less than 24 hours after contact was lost with the aircraft. Nanjappa Vicky Dhruv spotted YSR's fallen chopper first http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/03/dhruv-spotted-ysr-fallen-chopper-first.htm 3 September 2009 Rediff 10 September 2009 Death of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy The Indian Prime Minister's Office confirmed the helicopter's crash on the morning of 3 September and the death of all aboard, including that of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/hyderabad/Andhra-Pradesh-plunges-into-gloom/Article1-449770.aspx Andhra Pradesh plunges into gloom 3 September 2009 Hindustan Times 3 September 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090906084640/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/hyderabad/Andhra-Pradesh-plunges-into-gloom/Article1-449770.aspx 6 September 2009 PMO confirms death of Andhra CM The Director General of Police said that the bodies of Reddy and others were charred beyond recognition and had to be identified on the basis of clothing.Charred bodies of YSR, others identified by clothes https://web.archive.org/web/20110102191201/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/hyderabad/Charred-bodies-of-YSR-others-identified-by-clothes/Article1-449885.aspx 2 January 2011 The autopsy of all the bodies was carried out at Kurnool Medical College.Autopsy conducted on YSR in Kurnool Investigation Although the sparsely populated forest area is considered to be stronghold of the outlawed Naxal communist insurgents, the National Security Advisor of India ruled out the possibility of the Naxals bringing down the helicopter. NSA rules out Naxal strike on YSR Reddy's chopper http://www.ptinews.com/news/262051_NSA-rules-out-Naxal-strike-on-YSR-Reddy-s-chopper 2 September 2009 Press Trust of India 10 September 2009 The investigation eventually concluded that the factors that caused that crash included the fact that the crew became fixated for more than six minutes in trying to find the reason behind the problem with their transmission oil pressure system, and they became distracted from the worsening weather. They also noted that the flight crew was flying in Instrument meteorological conditions whereas the flight plan was cleared for VFR flying, and the flight crew never discussed the bad weather, diverting, or returning to base. References 2 External links Final accident report (Archive) – Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Helicopter Crash, 2009 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2009 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving helicopters Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India Category:2000s in Andhra Pradesh Category:Disasters in Andhra Pradesh Category:September 2009 in India Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Bell 430