History of Flight
On 23 November 2015, AS350 B3 helicopter VT-JKB, owned and operated by M/s Himalayan Heli Services Pvt. Ltd., was conducting shuttle flights between Katra Helipad and Sanji Chhat Helipad under contract with the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The helicopter had completed 24 uneventful shuttles that day. The first 15 were flown by another pilot, and the subsequent 9, including the accident flight, were flown by the deceased pilot. No snags were reported. Bird activity was observed in the area at that time. The helicopter departed Katra Helipad at approximately 0722 UTC with six passengers. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter turned back and descended, likely attempting an emergency landing after a bird strike. During the descent, it struck electric cables at the edge of an open space, became entangled, toppled, and impacted the ground upside down, immediately catching fire. The accident occurred around 0725 UTC. Eyewitnesses reported seeing black smoke after the helicopter disappeared. Another helicopter, VT-GVJ, was asked to look for smoke and subsequently located the wreckage upside down and engulfed in flames. Emergency services arrived and extinguished the fire.
Injuries to Persons
All seven occupants—the pilot and six passengers—sustained fatal burn and impact injuries.
Damage to Helicopter
The helicopter was completely destroyed. The tail boom separated from the main structure and was substantially damaged. Electric cables were snapped.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot License (Helicopter) with endorsements for the AS350 B3. He had 5,949 total flying hours, including 2,367 hours on type. His last flight before the accident was 11 days prior. He was familiar with the Katra route, having flown 180 hours there in the last 12 months.
Helicopter Information
The helicopter was an Ecureuil AS350 B3, a single-engine aircraft manufactured by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). It was certified for day VFR operations. The maximum takeoff weight was 2,250 kg. It accommodated one pilot and six passengers in high-density configuration.
Wreckage and Impact
The helicopter came to rest upside down and caught fire. A dead, partially burnt vulture was found underneath the wreckage on the right side of the cabin area. One wing of the vulture was found about 80 meters away.
Probable Cause
The investigation concluded that the accident occurred due to a bird strike.