Deviation from prescribed flying area factor in mishap: Alchemist Aviation MD Mrinal Kanti Pal
Preliminary report reveals details of Cessna 152 crash
Jamshedpur: Alchemist Aviation during a press conference at Beldih Club on Wednesday claimed that a stunt manoeuvre attempted by the trainee pilot and instructor of the Cessna 152 training aircraft led to the crash in Chandil Dam last month.
Alchemist Aviation managing director Mrinal Kanti Pal said, “Eyewitnesses at Chandil stated that the accident occurred due to a stunt manoeuvre attempted by the trainee pilot and instructor.”
The managing director further stated that the trainer and trainee were supposed to fly within a 5 nautical mile radius, but they were reported at a position call on R/T (radio transmission) at 320 radial and 8 nautical miles.
Pal emphasized that the deviation from the prescribed flying area could have been a factor in the mishap.
“The Cessna 152 aircraft, registered as VT-TAJ, was manufactured in 1979 and had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA). Its latest Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC No. 2216) was issued on July 15, 2024, and was valid until July 16, 2025,” added the managing director.
He further added, “The aircraft was owned and operated by Alchemist Aviation Pvt Ltd. It underwent its last scheduled inspection, a 50-hour check, on August 19, 2024, accumulating 16124:40 airframe hours at the time and before the accident the aircraft had a total of 16128:40 airframe hours, and the Lycoming engine had logged 1840:55 hours since overhaul.”
“We are in touch with the insurance company to ensure that the family of the deceased receives compensation at the earliest.”
Trainer Captain Anshuman said, “All four aircraft, including VT-TAJ, had departed from Jamshedpur and joined their respective altitudes at 2,500 feet in the northern sector. Following standard operating procedures (SOPs), each aircraft transmitted an ‘OPS NORMAL’ call at 10-minute intervals. However, VT-TAJ gave a positional call on R/T indicating it was ‘320 radial and 8 nautical miles from JJS,’ which was outside the permitted 5 nautical mile radius.”
The Alchemist Aviation officials further informed that the ill-fated flight had taken off from Sonari Aerodrome at approximately 10:32 am IST on August 20 to conduct a local training sortie. Pal added, “According to the flight plan, the aircraft was to perform general flying within a 5 nautical mile radius below 4,500 feet from the Jamshedpur sector (JJS). Three other Alchemist Aviation aircraft were also engaged in training flights the same day.”
He added that around 11:35 am, Jamshedpur ATC transmitted updated METAR information. While other aircraft responded with a readback while there was no reply from VT-TAJ.
“Several attempts to establish contact with VT-TAJ went unanswered. An aerial search was initiated by Tata Steel’s aircraft and other Alchemist Aviation planes based on VT-TAJ’s last known position, but it could not be located, and the aircraft was declared missing. Authorities were promptly informed to commence search and rescue operations,” added the managing director.
Pal further confirmed that both crew members held valid licenses and were qualified to conduct the training flight. The instructor had accumulated 2,158 flying hours, while the trainee pilot had logged 81:35 hours. Both pilots had passed their medical examinations and met the necessary requirements for training flights on the ill-fated day.
The plane was recovered in a joint operation of Saraikela-Kharsawan district officials, Indian Navy and the NDRF on August 25, 2024. Navy team during the search operation had found the aircraft lying in an inverted position at a depth of approximately 10 meters.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation are investigating the plane crash.
A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has shed light on the tragic accident involving a Cessna 152 aircraft (VT-TAJ) operated by Alchemist Aviation Pvt Ltd near Jamshedpur on August 20, 2024. The aircraft, with trainee pilot Shubhrodeep Dutta and instructor pilot Shatru Jeet Anand onboard, crashed during a training sortie.
Progress of the Investigation:
1.Aircraft wreckage retrieved from the Chandil Dam 2. Wreckage was shifted and secured in a hangar at Sonari aerodrome. 3. Engine has been removed from the aircraft and quarantined for further analysis. 4. Aircraft logbooks, Engine logbooks, Techlog, METAR, Work Orders, copies of on-board documents, and inspection schedule records related to VT-TAJ have been collected from the operator for further scrutiny. 5. Fuel and oil samples have been collected and handed over to the DGCA lab for further analysis. 6. Statements of following personnel’s has been recorded: a) ATC personnel handled the RT call b) Instructors flown with the Student Pilot c) Students undergoing training at the Academy and in recent past, flown with the Instructor d) Technical staff maintaining the aircraft e) Eye Witnesses
Wreckage
On 25th Aug 2024, while carrying out the SAR operation in Chandil Dam, the Navy team, deployed for search and rescue, observed that the aircraft was lying in an inverted position at a depth of approximately 10 meters in the dam reservoir. Subsequently, on 26th Aug 2024, arrangements were made and aircraft was pulled out from the reservoir.
During initial assessment, major damage was observed at the nose section of the aircraft and, Nose landing gear was also found broken. In addition , other damages were also observed on both wings, the vertical fin, the rudder and the tail boom.
Weather Information
Weather as per the METAR at Jamshedpur at the time of accident was as follows; Time (UTC) Wind Visibility Cloud Temperature QNH Weather 0600 320/02 KT 5000 M SKC 1800 Ft 32 degree C 1005 HZ As per the METAR, the weather conditions were conducive to undertake training flight.
