Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark-III Helicopter Crashes

January 8, 2025

On January 5, 2025, an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark-III of the Indian Coast Guard crashed during a training sortie in Porbandar, Gujarat. Tragically, all three personnel on board lost their lives. This incident marked the second fatal crash involving the ALH Mark-III within a span of four months. The previous crash occurred in September during a medical evacuation mission, also resulting in three fatalities. Earlier, in March 2023, another ALH incident in Kochi did not lead to any casualties. These events have raised serious safety concerns regarding the helicopter model.

Investigation and Safety Audits

The specific causes of the recent crashes are still under investigation. The Indian Coast Guard has initiated Boards of Inquiry to assess the incidents. The inquiries focus on the helicopter’s flying controls and transmission systems. Following each crash, safety audits have been conducted, leading to temporary groundings for thorough inspections. After the January crash, the entire fleet of approximately 300 ALH helicopters was grounded for safety checks.

Design and Development of HAL ALH

The HAL Dhruv, the base model of the ALH, began development in 1984. It was designed to replace the older Chetak and Cheetah helicopters in the Indian defence services. The ALH is intended as a multi-role, multi-mission helicopter. Significant components, including the airframe, are produced in India. However, critical elements like the Shakti engines were developed in collaboration with foreign companies. Over the years, the level of indigenisation has increased, with more systems and parts being manufactured domestically.

Previous Crashes of ALH Variants

Other variants of the ALH have also experienced crashes. In January 2021, an Army ALH crashed due to a technical issue near Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir. In August 2021, an ALH Rudra, the attack helicopter variant, crashed into the Ranjit Sagar Dam, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. An October 2022 crash in Arunachal Pradesh involved an ALH Rudra, leading to the loss of two pilots and three soldiers. In May 2023, an Army ALH crashed in Kishtwar, killing one soldier.

Safety Concerns and Design Flaws

The recent crashes have brought into light safety concerns about the ALH helicopters. Military aviation veterans have called for independent inquiries to assess the safety record of the helicopters. Previous investigations have identified design flaws, particularly with the booster control rods, which could impact helicopter control. In response, HAL has initiated a program to replace these rods with more durable steel versions in newer ALH models.

ALH Dhruv – Multi-role helicopter developed by HAL.
Shakti engines – Jointly developed with Turbomeca, now Safran Helicopter Engines.
Ranjit Sagar Dam – Site of a fatal ALH Rudra crash in 2021.
HAL – Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, responsible for the ALH design.
Indigenisation – Increased domestic production of helicopter components over time.

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