IAF clueless about what's causing bulk of its aircraft to crash

[Major Shaitan Singh]

AF does not know what is causing a bulk of its aircraft to crash, inhibiting its ability to put in remedial actions and compromising safety of its fleet and pilots.

The Indian Air Force does not know what is causing a bulk of its aircraft to crash, inhibiting its ability to put in remedial actions and compromising the safety of its ageing fleet and pilots. A detailed study on flight crash records of the air force has found that over 40% crashes that are attributed to technical defect remain unresolved due to the lack of advanced air crash investigation technology, having an impact on flight safety.

An audit of air crashes over a three years ending 2013 has revealed that out of the 37 total loss accidents that took place, almost half (18) were attributed to a technical fault in the aircraft. The rest were attributed to human failure. While the cases of human failure could be solved and remedial measures put in, the probe into over 30% crashes due to technical defects had to be closed without being resolved.

The actual cause of a technical defect is crucial, as it affects the safety of an entire fleet, which if not resolved can cause accidents in the future. The crash of a Mi 17 chopper in Tawang in November 2010 that resulted in 12 deaths for example, has been classified as unresolved.

While investigators found that one of the rotor blades of the chopper snapped off in flight, the cause of the breakage could not be established. In a July 2010, crash of a MiG 27fighter that resulted in one casualty on the ground, the cause of the accident was found to be material failure of the turbine blade that had a dent on it.

However, after an extensive investigation, the cause of the dent could not be found. In fact, a few months later in September another MiG 27 crashed and investigators could not get to the root of the problem.

As part of the audit, the air force has admitted to the `uncertainty having implication on flight safety would continue to persist till such time the advanced technology was made available to investigators'. While technical investigations are difficult due to the lack of evidence on a downed aircraft, remedial measures are now being put in by the air force, including adding of an external technical expert from agencies like HAL to the board of inquiry into accidents.

It is also now planning to ensure Flight Data Recorder (FDR) systems and other recording facilities on all its aircraft for proper forensics.

 

[singh sahab]

Vodka filled Ruskie spares, i guess.

 

[Tshering22]

Vodka filled Ruskie spares, i guess.

Or shoddy HAL services, poor training from IAF due to lack of trainers (back then) and of course, metal fatigue due to service going far beyond their lives.

Freak cases are like the C-130J that recently crashed. It was brand new.

That seems more like sabotage.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Or shoddy HAL services, poor training from IAF due to lack of trainers (back then) and of course, metal fatigue due to service going far beyond their lives.

Freak cases are like the C-130J that recently crashed. It was brand new.

That seems more like sabotage.

The Herk came down due to 'wake turbulence effect', which is not sabotage. That has been determined already.

 

[Tshering22]

The Herk came down due to 'wake turbulence effect', which is not sabotage. That has been determined already.

Wake turbulence? On a Herc? What were they flying in front of it? Antonov-124?

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Wake turbulence? On a Herc? What were they flying in front of it? Antonov-124?

Nope it was flying behind another Herk, very close and both were very low over terrain. Do you read the news?
Do you think that the IAF owns and flies An-124s?

 

[Kinetic]

Pathetic if true!!!! Def Minster must set up a high level analysis for RCA. Its taxpayers money and precious lives of our soldiers.

 

[G0dfather]

• Ageing fleet

• Lack of trained personnel

• Poor maintainance

• Diversity problem, wide variety of planes used by the air force,makes it much harder to keep training and maintenance up to standard.

• Lazzzzzy HAL

 

[Rajput_Pakistani]

• Ageing fleet

• Lack of trained personnel

• Poor maintainance

• Diversity problem, wide variety of planes used by the air force,makes it much harder to keep training and maintenance up to standard.

• Lazzzzzy HAL,

• New breed of romeo nature pilots (even some of new recruits smoke pot in academy)

in Academy?? I can't believe it.

 

[singh sahab]

in Academy?? I can't believe it.

That's BS.

Second hand jingoistic info.

 

[singh sahab]

i can't show you the pics, but believe it or not the new breed is not that much professional.

I choose not to believe it, because i myself was in academy for a year. There is no such thing. Candidates, when needed go outside and smoke whatever they want to.

There is strict discipline by cleaning staff and senior batch. Don't post BS.

 

[Abingdonboy]

AF does not know what is causing a bulk of its aircraft to crash, inhibiting its ability to put in remedial actions and compromising safety of its fleet and pilots.

The Indian Air Force does not know what is causing a bulk of its aircraft to crash, inhibiting its ability to put in remedial actions and compromising the safety of its ageing fleet and pilots. A detailed study on flight crash records of the air force has found that over 40% crashes that are attributed to technical defect remain unresolved due to the lack of advanced air crash investigation technology, having an impact on flight safety.

An audit of air crashes over a three years ending 2013 has revealed that out of the 37 total loss accidents that took place, almost half (18) were attributed to a technical fault in the aircraft. The rest were attributed to human failure. While the cases of human failure could be solved and remedial measures put in, the probe into over 30% crashes due to technical defects had to be closed without being resolved.

The actual cause of a technical defect is crucial, as it affects the safety of an entire fleet, which if not resolved can cause accidents in the future. The crash of a Mi 17 chopper in Tawang in November 2010 that resulted in 12 deaths for example, has been classified as unresolved.

While investigators found that one of the rotor blades of the chopper snapped off in flight, the cause of the breakage could not be established. In a July 2010, crash of a MiG 27fighter that resulted in one casualty on the ground, the cause of the accident was found to be material failure of the turbine blade that had a dent on it.

However, after an extensive investigation, the cause of the dent could not be found. In fact, a few months later in September another MiG 27 crashed and investigators could not get to the root of the problem.

As part of the audit, the air force has admitted to the `uncertainty having implication on flight safety would continue to persist till such time the advanced technology was made available to investigators'. While technical investigations are difficult due to the lack of evidence on a downed aircraft, remedial measures are now being put in by the air force, including adding of an external technical expert from agencies like HAL to the board of inquiry into accidents.

It is also now planning to ensure Flight Data Recorder (FDR) systems and other recording facilities on all its aircraft for proper forensics.

The vast majority of crashes are of the aged aircrafts- once the Cheetak, Cheetah, MiG-21 and MiG-27 are out of service you will see the number of crashes fall through the floor. As these old aircraft don't have FDRs or CVRs naturally the exact cause of aircraft loss will go unknown because one can't say for certain without such basic information to hand.



The IAF's crash rate remains one of the lowest of any AF in the world no matter what the media wants to spout.

 

[Windjammer]

Error in Piloting Led to C-130J Hercules Aircraft Crash: Indian Air Force Sources

Pilot error probable cause of IAF Hercules crash | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

 

[singh sahab]

its upto you, i'am only saying what i have seen.

No, you are only saying what you have heard from your friends.

 

[Abingdonboy]

i can't show you the pics, but believe it or not the new breed is not that much professional.

This makes absolutely no sense, Indian military academies are amongst the most disciplined (to a fault really) such establishments in the world, this is just a fact, you can get kicked out of the military for a lot less than indulging in such illicit behaviour. You don't think pilots (and all military personnel) are subjected to frequent drugs tests just like their civilian counterparts?

Smoking pot in a military establishment- that's a new one