JOIN USA Chetak helicopter belonging to the Indian Navy made “hard-landing” at the INS Rajali naval base in Arakkonam on Monday while it was on a routine training sortie.
A spokesperson of the Navy said the Chetak CH442 helicopter crash-landed while carrying out dry-winching dual sortie at the Rajali base in Arakkonam, 80 km from here. Though the main and tail rotors of the helicopter were damaged, all three crew members are safe.
“An Indian Navy’s Chetak helicopter (frame number 442) while undertaking a routine training sortie of ‘Dry Winching’ carried out hard-landing at INS Rajali, Arakkonam at about 0904 hours on 01 Oct 18.
“The station rescue team reached the site within minutes of the incident. The crew is safe, and no other casualty has been reported. The incident is being investigated to ascertain the cause of the hard landing,” a spokesperson of the Navy said in a statement.
INS Rajali, also known as Arakkonam Naval Air Station, operates under the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. Though the airfield was constructed way back in 1942, it was abandoned after the second world war and lay unused until the 1980s. After it was transferred to the Indian Navy, the airfield was developed and INS Rajali was commissioned on 11 March 1992.
The Chetak Helicopter is a two-ton class helicopter powered by Artouste - III B turbo shaft engine.
“The helicopter is suitable for commuting, cargo/material transport, casualty evacuation, Search & Rescue (SAR), Aerial Survey & Patrolling, Emergency Medical Services, Off-shore operations and Under slung operations,” according to the HAL, which manufactures the helicopter.