HAL's HJT-36 trainer aircraft crashes
30 Apr 2011
Bangalore: In a setback for Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's (HAL) Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), programme, its prototype model S3466 crashed on Thursday in the course of a flight test, making it the third such mishap in about as many years. The programme operates under the HJT-36 Sitara designation.
The IJT is meant to replace the Kiran trainer aircraft in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The prototype crashed at 3.10 pm in Kelamangalam, Laxmipuram village, near Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, on Thursday.
According to an official statement by HAL, test pilots group captain Mathur and wing commander Patra, the co-pilot, ejected from the aircraft before it crashed into the woods in the area.
The malfunction is said to have occurred when the pilots were performing a "stalling" manoeuvre, which checks flight control ability.
HAL has constituted a court of inquiry into the Thursday's incident to determine the cause of the accident.
HAL chairman Ashok Nayak said, "The cause of the crash has not yet been determined but we will look into that."
He dismissed suggestions that the crash may have implications as the IJTs are to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) soon and said "there would be no problems there".
Official sources have confirmed that the flight data recorder has been recovered and that data would be retrieved in a couple of days.
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