.. 1I G!,

RESTRICTED

PART - I

APPOINTMENT OF THE EXPERT COMMITTEE

•••(I=

1.1 Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,

Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy was scheduled to visit Districts

Chittoor, Nellore and Prakasam on 2nd ana 3rd September,

09 by undertaking journeys in AP State Helicopter, BELL

430, VT-APG. As per schedule, Honorable Chief Minister

accompanied by the following staff / crew members left

Begumpet Airport by Helicopter .on 2nd September, 09 for

Chittoor at 08.38 hrs.

Page: 3

1. Shri.P.Subhramaniyam, Private Secretary to CM

2. Shri.A.C.S.Wesley, Chief Security Officer to CM

3. Capt.S.K.Bhatia, Pilot-in-command

4. Capt.M.S.Reddy, Co-Pilot

CQ 1.2 Unfortunately, the helicopter crashed at about 09.30 hrs

causing the death of Honorable Chief Minister and all the

other occupants.(I

•a:..1

1.3 The Ministry of Civil Aviation ( MaCA), Government of

India appointed a four member committee under the

Chairmanship of Shri.R.K.Tyagi, CMD, My s.Pawan Hans

Helicopter Ltd., under Rule 74 of the Aircraft Rules 1937,

to investigate into the causes of helicopter crash. The

Government of Andhra Pradesh have entrusted to CBr an

enquiry into the causes of helicopter crash, in addition to

the statutory enquiry ordered by MaCA. The Government

also decided to constitute a High Level Expert Committee

r .

/fI&1£IIIIiIIIIIII,.II

••II

•,.lIS

£IIICSIi

•(8

IIIIrfi]jEM

lirTII~

"1!:~.. ,",~.,

f'l~~

to go into all the aspects pnor to and including the

incident of helicopter crash vide HOME (SC.A)

Department G.O.MS No.399, dated 9th Sept. 2009, which

consisted of :

l. Shri.M.R.Reddy, IPS., (Retd.) an expert in V.I.P.

Security

2. Shri. H. S. Khola, Former Director General, Civil

Aviation (DGCA), Government of India.

A copy of GO is enclosed at Appendix - I

1.4 The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:-

Page: 4

i) Enquire into the incident of crash, covenng all the,

preceding circumstances relating to the safety of the

helicopter, the safety / secu-rity _ precautions taken,

implementation of SOPs if any, and arrive at cause of

crash and identify lapses leading / contributing to the

crash.

ii] Look into the existing systems relating to the maintenance

and technological up-gradation of helicopter and its

navigation systems, the operational requirements

specified for pilots and role of different agencies

controlling / monitoring the movement of helicopter and

identify shortcomings / lacunae.

iii) To make recommendations to Improve the current

systems by examining the sufficiency of existing systems

in order to prevent any future occurrences.

The said committee was

comprehensive report to

required to

the Government

submit its

within 2

months. The committee was given all assistance from

Government. The committee was permitted to co-opt any

expert and officer, if required.

1.5 The Committee commenced its proceedings on 20th Sept.

2009 and held seven sittings at Hyderabad I Delhi. The

Committee adopted the following procedure.

'..'

(i) During its first meeting on 20th September, at

Hyderabad, the Committee called on the Hon. Chief

Minister Shri.K.Rosaiah and the Home Minister and

sought their overall guidance in conducting the

enquiry. The Hon. Chief Minister desired that the

committee should look into all the aspects of APACL

operations including the safety aspects of the

present Augusta helicopter operations so as to have

a comprehensive view on all the safety and security

related aspects.

(ii) The Committee interacted with the semor officials

as well as field level staff of State Police I Security,

AP Aviation Corporation, MET officials, DGCA

officials at Hyderabad, ATC officials, CBl, ass etc.,

(iii) Reviewed the existing systems relating to the

maintenance of helicopter, operational

requirements, compliance of DGCA regulations for

safe operations of helicopter, role of different

agencies controlling I monitoring the movement of

helicopter.

(iv) Reviewed the existing security systems and

procedures for the security I safety of the Chief

Minister including the level of co-ordination among

the various agencies.

••••a

Page: 5

••

'r..

Page: 6

11fIII

•••

(v) Reviewed organizational structure of AP State

Aviation Corporation induding the level of

professional competence of the personnel.

(vi) Reviewed search and rescue operations systems

and procedures.

(vii) Reviewed the role of AP state Advisory Committee

on "Public safety and Public security".

(viii] Analyzed the weather information and the

implications on safe operations of the helicopter

with the help of an expert.

(ix) Obtained views of the helicopter manufacturers on

non-functioning of the Emergency Locator

Transmitter (ELT).

(x) Examined the helicopter wreckage In the APACL

hangar at Begumpet airport.

(xi) Inspected the maintenance facilities of APACL at

Begumpet airport.

(xii) Examined the maintenance and operational records

of APACL and the other related safety and security

aspects.

1.6 The committee could submit its comprehensive report

only after the transcript of Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR ),

information derived from the components of the engines of

the helicopter, report of the helicopter manufacturer on

examination of damaged helicopter parts and other

related information was available as contained in the

Tyagi committee report. As it took some time to get the

relevant information, the committee had requested the

Government to extend its tenure till 15th January 2010, to

submit its report. The Government have accorded their

approval vide GO.Ms.No.485 Home (SC-A) Dept. dated

2/12/2009 and also permitted the committee to co-opt

f~

Gr"" ~., \t-~j ~~.

[J

(JC,;1

0o'",fja0.'~

••erEI(J.,:

~

LtCoL(ReLd.) Gurmeet Singh Reen, a qualified helicopter

flying Instructor in the Army Aviation for an expert

opimon.

1.7 The Committee accordingly co-opted LLCol.(retd.)Gurmeet

Singh Reen for an expert opinion.

1.8 A request was made initially by the Government of

Andhra Pradesh and subsequently by the Expert

Committee to MaCA, if the CVR transcript and the other

information collected by the Tyagi Committee could be

shared for the purpose of the investigation. There was

however, no response. The Expert Committee therefore,

waited till Tyagi Committee submitted its report to MaCA

Page.' 7

and retrieved on 21 st .Jariuary, 20 10 whatever information

was put by MaCA on its website. In the absence of any

other information available to this committee on CVR

recordings and results derived - from helicopter

components, it has utilized the observations of the Tyagi

committee contained in their report on these aspects.

1.9 The CBI is independently conducting an enquiry into the

causes of helicopter crash including any attempt of

Sabotage. The Expert Committee closely interacted with

the concerned CEI officials and made use of the findings

of the CEl enquiry into the sabotage aspects and no other

independent enquiry was conducted into these aspects.