Flight Overview
On 12 January 2009, a Mil Mi-2 helicopter, registration RA-20981, performed a visual flight under visual flight rules (VFR) for an aerial survey requested by the customer OOO "RN – Yuganskneftegaz". The purpose was to inspect oil gathering pipelines at the Ust-Balyk field. The helicopter was operated by the acting commander of the squadron (KVS – i.o. komandira AE), who served as pilot-in-command. On board were a second pilot (also referred to as KVS) and two representatives of the customer: the acting master of oil and gas production shop No. 3 and a pipeline worker.
Crew Training and Preparation
Preliminary training for the acting commander was conducted on 5 October 2008, prior to flights in the autumn-winter period of 2008–2009. The second pilot completed preliminary training on 22 September 2008 under the supervision of the acting commander and a navigator-instructor, also before the autumn-winter season. Both training sessions took place at the operational point of CJSC "Aviation Company Convers Avia" at the Poykovsky landing site.
On 11 January 2009, the day before the flight, a quarterly training session was held under the guidance of the acting commander. This included cockpit simulator exercises on a Mi-2 helicopter.
Planned Training Flight
For 12 January 2009, a separate training flight was scheduled to maintain the second pilot's instrument approach skills using a curtain. This training was to be conducted at Surgut airport with the acting commander as instructor, using a different Mi-2 helicopter (RA-23707) equipped with dual controls. The planned departure time was 03:55. However, the actual flight described in this article took place as an aerial survey mission.
Operational Details
The second pilot worked under a shift method. According to his travel order, he arrived from Murmansk on 10 January 2009, with no defined end date for the assignment. His flight break did not exceed 26 days. The operational assignment for the survey flight was not physically located, but a signature confirming receipt was recorded in the logbook at the company's office in Nefteyugansk.