Date:	24-NOV-2015
Time:	10:30 LT
Type:	Aérospatiale SA 365N2 Dauphin 2
Owner/operator:	Pawan Hans Helicopters (PHHL)
Registration:	VT-ELJ
MSN:	6239
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Category:	Accident
Location:	Melluri Helipad, Nagaland's Phek district -   India
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi
Departure airport:	Mon Helipad
Destination airport:	Melluri Helipad
Investigating agency:	AAIB India
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The helicopter VT-ELJ was scheduled to operate a flight Dimapur-Kohima-Mon-Meluri-Kohima. The flight from Dimapur to Mon helipad was uneventful. The helicopter took off from Mon Helipad at approx 04:55 UTC for Melluri Helipad. The flight up to approach of Melluri helipad was uneventful. The Pilot approached for beginning of the helipad, however, as he entered the area around helipad maintaining height of 5-6 feet above the ground, due to the rotor downwash, a huge dust bowl engulfed the helicopter. The visibility was reduced due to the dust bowl.
The pilot got disoriented and decided to abort the landing and initiated a go around from hover. During the process of go-around, the main rotor blade and subsequently nose of the helicopter hit the 30 feet high hillock in the forward path of the helicopter and toppled on its left. A post impact fire occurred in the aft cabin, engine compartment and front tail boom area. All the six persons on board including both crews were rescued and taken to Hospital at Kohima for medical treatment after the accident.


Probable cause of the Accident:
While landing, due to the rotor downwash, a huge dust bowl engulfed the helicopter thus reducing crew visibility. The crew got disoriented and initiated go around from hover with no visual contact with the ground/ obstructions and hit the hillock.
Contributory factor
a) Helipad condition and management.
b) The pilot did not follow the SOP procedure of approaching the helipad from bearing 110/290 as it gives a clear way in case of aborted landing is a factor to the accident.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PawanHans-chopper-meets-with-an-accident-in-Nagaland/articleshow/49908639.cms
https://www.firstpost.com/india/six-persons-including-state-govt-officials-injured-in-pawan-hans-helicopter-crash-2519420.html
http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/2015/2015.semaine.48.pdf

http://www.rotorspot.nl/current/vt-c.php



Safety recommendation VT-ELJ (1) issued by AAIB India to DGCA India
Safety recommendation VT-ELJ (2) issued by AAIB India to DGCA India
Safety recommendation VT-ELJ (3) issued by AAIB India to DGCA India
Safety recommendation VT-ELJ (4) issued by AAIB India to DGCA India

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
25-Nov-2015 09:47	plcedi	Added
25-Nov-2015 10:27	TB	Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Narrative]
04-Dec-2015 09:45	Aerossurance	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source, Narrative]
10-Dec-2015 08:56	Anon.	Updated [Embed code]
10-Dec-2015 08:57	harro	Updated [Embed code]
11-Mar-2016 17:43	TB	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Location]
10-Sep-2017 08:59	harro	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
21-May-2023 14:31	harro	Updated [Source, Embed code, Accident report]
21-May-2023 14:31	harro	Updated [Embed code]