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Our Bureau

New Delhi , Aug. 5

THE weather conditions and improper handling by the pilot led to the crash of the Bell 206 helicopter in March 2002 which claimed the life of three people, including the then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, G.M.C Balayogi.

This has been indicated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In a summary of the crash, the DGCA has said that the prevailing weather condition when the helicopter took off from Bhimavaram was "normal with good visibility."

However, en-route visibility at Kovvadalanka and other adjoining areas was poor due to fog.

"Probably, the pilot decided to execute unplanned landing while flying in a foggy weather condition and misjudged the water surface as plain ground free from obstruction/trees," the DGCA has said.

The report adds that while executing the landing, the pilot realised that he was going to land on the water surface and decided to abandon the landing.

"When he tried to pull up the helicopter, the rear portion of the helicopter hit the water resulting in loss of directional control and the helicopter started spinning violently. The structure collapsed and the occupants were killed due to the impact," the report has said.

Further, the report points out that the accident was caused when the pilot who was unable to continue the flight due to poor visibility and while searching for an appropriate place to land made an "error of judgement" by mistaking the pond water as land surface.

"After realising so, when he attempted to lift the helicopter from a low height, the tail boom contacted the water surface and got separated causing the helicopter to spin and crashland."

The Bell 206 helicopter (VT-DAP) was operated by Deccan Aviation Pvt Ltd and was operating a flight from Bhimavaram to Hyderabad.

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`Bad piloting, weather led to Bell crash'

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