[TKMCE]

Interestingly the report of another well publicized twin engine civil helicopter accident last year at Kochi has now been released by the DGCA

https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-port...icationDtlsReq

[airbus]

IAF chopper crash | Inquiry rules out mechanical failure, sabotage or negligence.

The tri-services inquiry into the Mi-17 V5 helicopter that killed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat and 13 others has submitted its preliminary findings according to which the crash occurred due to “unexpected change” in weather conditions that led to spatial disorientation of the pilot resulting in Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), the Indian Air Force (IAF) said on January 14.

“The Court of Inquiry (CoI) has ruled out mechanical failure, sabotage or negligence as a cause of the accident. The accident was a result of entry into clouds due to unexpected change in weather conditions in the valley. This led to spatial disorientation of the pilot resulting in CFIT,” the IAF said in a statement. “Based on its findings, the CoI has made certain recommendations which are being reviewed.”

The IAF added that the inquiry team analysed the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder besides questioning all available witnesses to determine the most probable cause of the accident.

[itwasntme]

Are such Indian military accident investigation reports shared in the public domain? Would be interesting to read it given the undoubtedly top-notch condition of the craft in question and the highly qualified/experienced crew flying it.

I understand (from stray media reports) that one of the recommendations is not to have an exclusively highly experienced crew, but instead to have a crew with mixed experience levels.

[CosmicWizard]

Spatial disorientation was also the cause NTSB concluded in the chopper crash that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant in Jan 2020. There too an experienced pilot lost his way in the clouds and led a controlled flight into terrain. Seems quite plausible in this case also.