Thumby Aviation's helicopter bounced and spun 270 degrees when landing at Kedarnath helipad on May 31, prompting the aviation regulator DGCA to advise chopper pilots to exercise caution anytime there are tailwinds when heading for landing, according to officials. Officials with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that an inquiry into the event had begun.
They reported that on May 31, around 1.30 p.m., a Bell 407 helicopter belonging to Thumby Aviation Pvt Ltd made an unplanned, very hard landing while landing at Kedarnath helipad.
They stated the helicopter had made an unstabilized approach to the helipad, and during the landing, it hit the helipad surface hard, bounced, and then landed hard on the ground after losing direction by roughly 270 degrees.
"Pilots should take vigilance for the existence of any tailwinds during approaches, especially at Shri Kedarnath helipad," the authority stated in a statement following the incident.
Enjoy a smooth transition.
Pilots must take appropriate care, and if tailwinds or crosswinds exceed the permitted limits, the approach must be abandoned and the chopper must return to the base, according to the alert.
The DGCA is looking into the incident and plans to perform a spot check to ensure that these helicopter activities are being overseen safely, according to officials.
