What happened
On December 30, 2014, at 18:33 UTC, a Kamov Ka-32A11BC helicopter, registration CS-HMP, was conducting a night-time training flight involving hoist operations near São Brás de Alportel, Loulé. During the mission, the aircraft experienced a failure of the right engine (#2). Despite the loss of power in one engine, the flight crew successfully managed the emergency and continued the flight, ultimately performing a safe landing at Faro airport. There were no injuries to the three crew members on board.
The investigation
The GPIAA investigation, involving experts from the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC-AAIC), JSC Kamov, JSC Klim to include Klimov, and JSC Motor Sich, performed a detailed technical examination of the aircraft and both engines at Faro airport. Investigators conducted a borescope (videoscope) analysis of the right engine and inspected the airframe for structural integrity. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft logbooks and Flight Information Reports (FIR). While the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) provided acceptable recording quality, investigators noted that the operator's method of recording engine operating time relied solely on the pilot's post-flight FIR, which differed from the manufacturer's specified requirements.
Findings
Technical inspections of the right engine revealed significant internal damage. The videoscope analysis identified damage to the Intake Guide Vanes (IGV) and found that several blades on the first stage of the compressor rotor were missing their upper airfoil sections. Furthermore, evidence of melted white metal particles was found on some turbine blades, likely caused by fragments released from the damaged compressor blades. No foreign objects were found in the intakes of either engine. Following the inspection of the right engine, the left engine was also taken out of service for further investigation.