56 fatalities

1973-08-18: Antonov AN-24 (CCCP-46435) — Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines — Baku-Heydar Aliyev (Bina), Azerbaijan

Baku-Heydar Aliyev (Bina), AzerbaijanTakeoff (climb)

On August 18, 1973, an Antonov AN-24 (registration CCCP-46435) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Baku-Heydar Aliyev (Bina), Azerbaijan during takeoff. 56 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Several blades on the first stage of the turbine disintegrated due to a reduction of their mechanical properties due to a previous overheating, probably beyond 1,150°. The exact cause of the overheating and the period when it occurred could not be established. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781232386Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed in flames on a pipeline after left engine failure shortly after takeoff. The aircraft stalled during a left turn. 56 occupants were killed and 8 injured. The probable cause was disintegration of turbine blades due to previous overheating.

Accident Details

The flight began with a normal takeoff roll. The crew initiated rotation at a speed of 220 km/h. Five seconds after liftoff, while climbing to an altitude of 10 meters, the left engine failed. The left propeller automatically feathered, and the crew continued the climb.

Thirty-four seconds after takeoff, the aircraft reached 30 meters altitude at a speed of 230 km/h, at which point the crew retracted the flaps. Six seconds later, at a height of 40 meters and a speed of 227 km/h, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn. During the turn, the aircraft drifted to the left, lost speed, and stalled. It subsequently crashed in flames on a pipeline owned by the Neftyanyye Kamni Oil Company.

Two crew members and 54 passengers were killed, while eight other occupants were injured.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that several blades on the first stage of the turbine disintegrated due to a reduction in their mechanical properties caused by previous overheating, probably beyond 1,150 °C. However, it was not possible to establish the exact cause of the overheating or to define when this overheating occurred.