Fatal Kedarnath Helicopter Crash: Pilot's Last Words Reveal Weather Challenges in Valley Exit

The helicopter crashed between Gaurikund and Sonprayag.

New Delhi:

'Cannot see anything, turning...' were the final words transmitted by the pilot of a 17-year-old Bell 407 helicopter before it crashed near Kedarnath valley in June this year. The tragic accident claimed all seven lives onboard, occurring when the valley exit was enveloped in clouds, according to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) interim investigation report.

The Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd helicopter (VT-BKA) departed from Kedarnath helipad at 5:35 am and was destroyed by fire before reaching its intended destination at Guptkashi helipad on June 15. The crash site was near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand, resulting in the deaths of all occupants – the pilot, five passengers, and an infant.

In their interim findings, AAIB investigators reported that the helicopter showed no abnormalities during its takeoff from Kedarnath en route to Guptkashi.

The investigation team, working alongside representatives from US and Canadian aviation authorities, is continuing efforts to determine the fundamental cause of the accident.

Both the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) have assigned accredited representatives and technical advisors to assist with the investigation.

"Analysis of CCTV footage facing the valley entry/exit point revealed that at the time of the accident, the valley exit was obscured by clouds that were descending into the valley. Two other helicopters following behind the accident helicopter VT-BKA were observed exiting the valley at a lower altitude, successfully avoiding the cloud cover," stated the AAIB's interim report.

According to established protocols, helicopters must maintain an altitude of 8,500 feet when entering the Kedarnath valley and 9,000 feet when exiting.

"The pilot of VT-BKA was maintaining the prescribed 9,000 feet altitude while approaching the valley exit point," the report noted, adding that "no abnormality was observed during takeoff or valley entry as captured in CCTV footage."

Providing details of the helicopter's final moments, the AAIB reported that Aryan Aviation's operations team had communicated with the pilot of another helicopter, VT-TBC, which had operated from Guptkashi.

"During this interaction, the VT-TBC pilot informed operations that during the return journey to Guptkashi, as helicopter VT-BKA approached the valley exit point, its pilot reported via Radio Telephony that clouds were visible at the exit."

"The VT-BKA pilot subsequently transmitted 'cannot see anything, turning...' After this communication, no further radio calls were made by the VT-BKA pilot, and no distress signal was transmitted from the helicopter," according to the report.

The Kedarnath valley lacks meteorological facilities, though an Automated Weather Instrument (AWI) at the helipad provides real-time weather information via computer.

While this weather data isn't recorded permanently, screenshots from the computer are periodically shared in a common WhatsApp group for operators by UCADA (Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) security personnel.

"The instrument provides data on winds, visibility, temperature, pressure, humidity, and dew point, but does not offer information about cloud conditions," the report explained.

AAIB investigators noted that examination of WhatsApp group messages revealed that weather information for the first flight on the day of the accident had not been shared in the group.

"When questioned about this omission, investigators were told that such information is typically provided later in the day," the report added.

The report also mentioned that a technical advisor from Bell Helicopters visited Dehradun to conduct visual examinations of the recovered wreckage parts. "Most damage to these components was identified as consequential in nature, resulting from severe impact with the terrain," the report concluded.

Following this fatal accident, India's aviation regulator DGCA updated its circular in September to include enhanced safety measures for Char Dham operations, specifically addressing Kedarnath shuttle flights.