In November 2005, a Dhruv crash-landed in Andhra Pradesh, causing the entire fleet to be grounded; the subsequent probe found a fault with the helicopter's tail rotor blades, which has since been corrected.[23][24]
On 2 February 2007, during rehearsals prior to Aero India, a HAL Dhruv of the Sarang helicopter display team of the Indian Air Force crashed, killing co-pilot Squadron Leader Priye Sharma and wounding the pilot Wing Commander Vikas Jetley; the cause of the accident was under investigation.[122][123] After being in a coma for almost four years, Vikas Jetley died in January 2011.[124] The helicopter team continued to perform in the air show.[125]
In October 2009, an Ecuadorian Air Force Dhruv flew into terrain while attempting formation flight with two other helicopters close to an air force base near Quito. Air Force General Leonardo Barreiro said that the helicopter had been destroyed in the crash.[126] The remaining six aircraft were grounded during the investigation, which later concluded pilot error to be the cause.[127]
In February 2010, an Indian Air Force Dhruv was forced to make a crash landing after suffering a loss of power while rehearsing for the "Vayu Shakti" air power show; both pilots survived.[23]
On 21 April 2011, four army personnel were killed when a Dhruv crashed in north Sikkim.[128]
On 19 October 2011, an Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Dhruv crashed in north-east India, resulting in the deaths of the three crew on board. Immediately following the crash, the remaining five Dhruvs of the CRPF were grounded.[129]
On 15 January 2012, a BSF Dhruv crashed onto the runway at Raipur airport during a test flight, there were no deaths but all five of the crew onboard were injured.[130]
On 22 February 2014, an Ecuadorian Air Force Dhruv often used as a presidential transport crashed in the region of Chimborazo. The pilot Capt. Fabian Pazos Narvaez survived, but three military officials died (Lt. Jorge Luis Flores, Capt. Hector Caicedo and Sgt. Cristhian Unda). The incident is under investigation.
