What happened
On February 24, 2016, at approximately 1754 hours local time, an Enstrom F-28A, registration RA-2348G, crashed near Globitsy Township, Lomonosov District, in the Leningrad Region of Russia. The flight departed at approximately 1637 from a location roughly 13 nautical miles east-southeast of the accident site. The aircraft was being operated by a private individual for non-commercial work involving an aerial search for a stolen vehicle.
During the flight, which was conducted at altitudes of 60 meters or below under visual meteorological conditions, the engine lost power. The helicopter impacted a field with a high vertical descent rate. The accident resulted in 1 fatality for the pilot and 1 minor injury for the passenger. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that the left fuel drain was inoperative. Additionally, investigators found ice present within the left fuel tank.