KATHMANDU, Feb 17: The investigation report on the Simrik Air helicopter crash has been made public nearly three years after the incident. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation released the final report on Tuesday.
The report cites weaknesses in hover operations as the main cause of the crash. It notes that the pilot’s assistant had not received adequate training or briefing on partial hover operations, contributing to the accident.
The Simrik Air helicopter, registration 9N-AJZ, crashed on May 5, 2023 in Sankhuwasabha, resulting in one death and injuries to four others.
Simrik Air chopper crash: Rescue efforts on, three critically i...
The government had formed a four-member investigation committee on May 12, 2023, chaired by then Joint Secretary Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane of the Tourism Ministry.
According to the report: “The pilot increased left cyclic input but could not maintain control, causing the rotor to tilt further left. The resulting center of gravity imbalance led the helicopter to suddenly shift eastward. The rotor struck the top of the drilling machine, causing loss of control. The left skid slipped about eight feet below the contact point, breaking the tail rotor upon ground contact. The helicopter then rolled several times before coming to a stable position.”
The committee highlighted the lack of partial hover procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for skid contact. It recommended that all helicopter operators develop SOPs for skid contact and have them approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
