What happened
During an aerial photography mission, the left engine of the aircraft caught fire while in flight. In response to the fire, the pilot initiated a descent to lower altitude to manage the emergency. The crew subsequently performed an emergency belly landing on the tundra.
The incident occurred in the Sikhot-Alin Mountain Range, specifically near the Aksu River, approximately 82 km southeast of Sukpay. While the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it beyond repair, there were no fatalities or injuries reported among the crew.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor leading to the emergency landing was an engine fire during flight.