What happened
During a scheduled local flight test at Moscow-Zhukability Airport, an aircraft carrying nine crew members and engineers experienced a mechanical failure shortly after departure. The mission was part of a series of five planned seven-minute flights intended to evaluate ground-level noise emissions.
As the aircraft climbed to an altitude of approximately 45 metres, the right propeller entered an autofeather state. This malfunction triggered an unstable rolling motion, causing the aircraft to oscillate left and right. The flight path eventually reached a critical angle of attack, leading to an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently crashed 400 metres beyond the runway threshold, where the impact resulted in a post-crash fire. The accident resulted in seven fatalities and two serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the right propeller autofeathering was the primary mechanical failure. Additionally, it was noted that the aircraft was operating at a total weight approaching its maximum allowable limit during the flight.