AN-2 RA-35171 02.09.2017

On September 2, 2017, at Chernoye Airport (Balashikha town, Moscow Region, RF) the accident involving An-2 RA-35171 private aircraft occurred. According to the available information, two crew members on board were killed, the aircraft was destroyed and burnt down.  

The Interstate Aviation Committee has formed the Investigation team in accordance with the Russian Aviation Legislation. The Investigation team has started its work.

The Interstate Aviation Committee informs about the investigation progress of the accident involving Аn-2 RA-35171 private aircraft.

Interim statement on the investigation progress has been published on the IAC website.

Interim statement is issued in accordance with item 2.4.12 of the Regulations on Civil Aircraft Accident and Incident investigation in the Russian Federation and item 7.4, Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO). The statement provides actual information received by the Investigation team to date.

The Final report will be published upon completion of the investigation..

The Information presented in the Interim statement is preliminary and might be specified and updated based on the investigation results.

The Interstate Aviation Committee Investigation team has completed the investigation of the accident involving An-2 RA-35171 private aircraft occurred in the Moscow Region (RF) on September 2, 2017.

Most probably, the fatal accident involving An-2 RA-35171 aircraft was caused by the PIC's failure to take into account An-2 aircraft piloting technique at high speeds (the required time for aircraft bank recovering increases due to decreasing of the aileron deflection angle due to cable circuit stretching caused by the significant increase of forces in the lateral control channel at speeds of 270-300 km/h) that didn't let the aircraft recover from descending when maneuvering with high bank angles at extremely low height.

Contributing factors were:

-        aircraft piloting at modes beyond An-2 AFM limitations;

-        maneuvering at the altitude less than the specified for the demonstration flight over the airfield.

Appropriate safety recommendations based on the investigation results were developed.