25-May-17 VT-CMM Sikorsky S76C++ Nilanga, India

Helicopter came down less than 30 seconds after take-off.  Video shows a sudden spark 41 seconds after take-off on a very low climb-out (which could suggest it hit wires), and the helicopter descended quickly from there.  4 POB including the Chief Minister of the State of Maharashtra, but no significant injuries.  The helicopter did not gain any significant height between take-off and impacting the wires.

Thge official line from the state press dept is > ”The pilot decided on an emergency landing within 2 minutes of take-off. The helicopter didn’t crash-land, but got caught in wires while landing. We experienced sudden jerks, but no one suffered any injury. The CM has called for a detailed probe into the incident,’’ said Ketan Pathak, officer on special-duty (OSD) with the Chief Minister’s Office.

This report states air temperature was 45C.  The “brown out” from blown up earth/dust could be contributory – one suggestion was that the helipad had not been sufficiently watered and thus the dust cloud greater than it could have been.

Date
May 25, 2017
Reg
VT-CMM
MSN
760815
Location
Nilanga, Latur district
Country
India
CivilMilitary
Civil
Operator
Government-of-Maharashtra
Link 1
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/maharashtra-cm-s-helicopter-crash-lands-devendra-fadnavis-safe/story-mwUI3uNklU9Y1laG6SSXLJ.html
Link 2
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/devendra-fadnavis-chopper-crash-lands-in-latur-maharashtra-cm-escapes-unhurt/684860/
Link 3
http://www.kaumudi.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=91872

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