Three Of Four Recent Dhruv Crashes Not Due To Manufacturing Fault: HAL Chief

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil said that three of the four Dhruv helicopter crashes in the Indian Navy and Coast Guard since 2023 were not caused by manufacturing or design defects, the NDTV reported.

“Out of the four crashes that have happened, three in the Coast Guard and one in the Navy, three of them are because of other reasons. It is not manufacturing; it is not related to the design. There were issues either related to maintenance or in terms of the operation,” Sunil said.

Frequent accidents involving the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, an indigenous multi-role platform, have forced fleet-wide groundings. In January 2025, the Dhruv fleet faced its third grounding since 2023.

The Army and Air Force Dhruvs have since been cleared to fly.

The latest crash, on 5 January 2025, involved a Coast Guard Dhruv, in which investigators detected a fracture in the Non-Rotating Swashplate Bearing (NRSB), a key rotor component controlling blade pitch, lift, and stability.

“We brought in all the gearboxes and we had a thorough check… The defect investigation committee is going to meet shortly. I think now, we will get a picture of what is the root cause and what we need to do,” Sunil said.

The Dhruv fleet’s return is expected to take months, with inspections of 29 Navy and Coast Guard helicopters’ gearboxes proceeding at four to five per month.

Since March 2023, four crashes have killed at least six personnel, including two pilots and an aircrew diver in January 2025, and caused one crew member to go missing in September 2024.

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