26 MayELTs examined in Indian helicopter crashes
The on-board ELTs are being examined after two helicopter crashes in India. Both accidents left behind multiple casualties and unanswered questions.
A helicopter crashed in northeastern India two weeks ago, killing all four passengers.
The accident is being compared to a crash that happened earlier this month. That accident left five people dead- including Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu.
In the more recent accident, authorities say there was an Emergency Locator Transmitter, or ELT, installed on the helicopter. However, The Daily News & Analysis India reports that sources say that “because of poor maintenance of the Pawan Hans chopper, the ELT installed in it was reportedly not working.”
A team from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) in India is investigating the accident.
The investigation into the earlier crash continues as well.
In that accident, the VT-PHT AS350 B3 helicopter was carrying Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, two pilots, and two additional passengers. It took rescuers 96 hours to locate the wreckage. All five passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to initial reports, that helicopter was fitted with an Emergency Locator Transmitter than transmitted on both the 243.0 MHz and 406 MHz frequencies. Although the ELT was designed to activate on impact, no signal was received after the accident occurred.
Although there are some exceptions, the majority of 406 MHz ELT systems still require an external antenna, which can break off in the case of a particularly severe impact or crash.
The DCGA issued guidelines for the installation of 406 MHz ELTs on all within India aircraft by March 31, 2010.
The Times of India is reporting that ELTs must be registered with the Indian Space Research Organization. The newspaper is also reporting that mandatory personal beacons are being considered for helicopter fliers, although that legislation remains pending.
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