What happened
On October 13, 2013, a Robinson R44-II helicopter, bearing registration UP-RB002, crashed near Beles, Kazakhstan. The flight departed from the Beles Landing Site under night visual meteorological conditions. According to Russian authorities, the aircraft departed before sunrise and struck the ground approximately four minutes after takeoff.
The impact occurred on flat terrain and resulted in 2 fatal injuries to the pilot and passenger. The aircraft was destroyed by the forces of the impact.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the wreckage distribution indicated the helicopter struck the ground under power. While the cockpit and both the main and tail rotor blades were destroyed, the tailboom remained intact.