Ми-8Т RA-22750 19.06.2013

     According to the information recieved non-fatal accident with Mi-8T RA-22750 helicopter owned by "Delta-K" commercial manufacturing aviation enterprise occurred in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia, RF) on June 19, 2013. Three crew members and nine passengers were on board.
     The Interstate Aviation Committee has formed the Investigation team of the accident in accordance with the Russian Aviation Legislation. The Investigation team started its work.
    

      The Investigation team of the Interstate Aviation Committee has completed the investigation of the accident with Mi-8T RA-22750 helicopter owned by "PKAP "Delta K" LLC occurred in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia, RF) on June 19, 2013.
      The accident with Mi-8T RA-22750 helicopter during performance of aeiral forest protection on smoke-jumpers deplaning on the landing site selected while in flight in dusk was caused by uncontrolled helicopter descend that resulted in helicopter rotor and antitorque propeller blades touching tree tops, blades destruction and helicopter hard touchdown.
      Most probably the contributing factors were:
      • Approach procedure in conditions of dusk and smoke caused by forest fires at actual visibility not conforming to VFR flights.
      • Violation of Mi-8T helicopter crew operating procedure: non-compliance with compulsory checklists before the approach in violation of Mi-8T helicopter FOM clauses 9.7.1.2, 9.7.1.3 и 9.7.2.6; Crew members insufficient surveillance and the lack of altitude monitoring and flight speed at final approach track. 
      Most probably the following factors contributed to the accident:
      • Different definitions of day and night flights in FAR-136, FAR-128 and FOM disorienting aeronautical personnel.
      • Neglecting the conditions of selected from the air ground approach: the approcah was performed in direction of the brightly illuminated horizon sector that hampered vision adaptation necessary for stable observation of the ground in conditions of dusk and smoke.
      • Deficiencies in serial forest protection activities and immediate receiving of information on situation in forest fire areas; indistinct mission formulation by the officials of "Aerial Forest Protection Service" Federal State-Funded Institution to the rotorcraft crews.  
      The appropriate safety recommendations based on the investigation results were developed.