The probe committee formed to investigate the Air Dynasty chopper crash that killed the then Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation minister Rabindra Adhikari and others has cited inclement weather as the main reason.
The report submitted to Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Dhan Bahadur Buda on Wednesday has stated that the accident happened when the pilot lost control in severe weather conditions.
Minister Adhikari, his PSO Arjun Ghimire, Yeti Airlines owner Ang Tshering Sherpa, pilot Prabhakar KC, under secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Yubaraj Dahal, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Birendra Kumar Shrestha, and Authority’s Dhurba Das Bhochhibhoya, who had gone to Chuhandanda of Tehrathum for feasibility study of airport, were killed when returning from the nearby Pathivara temple in Taplejung on February 27.
"The helicopter faced strong winds immediately after leaving the Pathibhara helipad. The pilot failed to take situational precautions in such condition and the accident happened as a result," the committee has written about the possible reason behind the accident.
The report has listed unfavorable weather condition at Pathibhara area for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight as a contributing factor.
It has also pointed excessive load on front seat which contributed for the center of gravity to go beyond the limit as another contributing factor. The committee said three persons including the pilot were in the front row and four in the back but has not identified the persons who were seated in each row.
They had planned two persons in the front row and five in the back in the document submitted to Suketar Airport but did not implement that, according to the committee.
The committee has listed concerns of the occupants to escape from the deteriorating weather as early as possible as another contributing factor. The Suketar Airport was also closed when the airport's visibility was two kilometers at around the same time the weather in Pathibhara deteriorated.
The committee has concluded that the crash occurred just 34 seconds after the chopper left the ground in Pathibhara but the crash site was just 0.2 nautical mile (370.4 meters) away. The committee has reasoned that the chopper would have reached farther in that time and added that the pilot may have tried to return and again land at the Pathibhara helipad.
The report has listed condensation inside the windshield and icing on the outside of the windshield which reduced outside visibility as another contributing factor. "Insufficient operational oversight from the organization. Inadequate pre-flight planning and lack of consideration on individual load while preparing load and trim sheet," have also been cited as a contributing factor.
