AS-350B3 RA-04032 20.11.2014

     The accident involving AS-350B3 RA-04032 helicopter owned by Nano Stroy Invest, Ltd occurred near Mikhalchikovo village, Kstovsky District, Nizhny Novgorod Region (RF) on November 20, 2014. According to the available information, the pilot and four passsengers on board were killed.
      The Interstate Aviation Committee has formed the Investigation team of this accident in accordance with Russian Aviation Legislation. The Investigation team has started its work.
     

      The Interstate Aviation Committee Investigation team has completed the investigation of the accident involving AS-350B3 RA-04032 helicopter owned by Nano Stroy Invest, Ltd occurred in the Nizhny Novgorod Region (RF) on November 20, 2014.
      The most probable cause of the fatal accident involving AS-350B3 RA-04032 helicopter was loss of flight parameters monitoring (firstly over the altitude) during landing approach at night in low visibility conditions and low cloud cover not complying with PIC's meteorological minima for VFR flight.
      Contributing factors could be:
      • failures in the analysis of meteorological conditions by PIC during taking the decision for departure in order to break through clouds resulted in the need of transition to IFR flight which PIC and the helicopter were not authorized for;
      • insufficient PIC's proficiency at this rotorcraft type having the design features of barometric pressure altimetric column (zero altitude at the device bottom) fixed at RA-04032, and the lack of radio altimeter onboard, could result in "illusion" of enough altitude margin during descending and ground cues seeking.  
     
The appropriate safety recommendations based on the investigation results were developed.