What happened
On or around early September 2025, an An-2, registration RA-33675, was involved in an unauthorized flight operation in the Rostov Region. The aircraft, owned by IP Tishchenko G.M. and leased to LLC Khimavia, had been relocated to a parking area in Salsk for maintenance and storage following the completion of agricultural spraying tasks in the Volgodonsk district.
Following a request from the director of the Rodnik agro-complex to perform additional sunflower field treatments in the settlement of Morozov, the aircraft owner contacted the pilot in charge. The pilot agreed to ferry the aircraft from Salsk to Morozov to await further instructions regarding subsequent agricultural operations.
The investigation
Investigations into the flight revealed that the pilot in charge was a private pilot authorized to operate the An-2. However, the owner of the aircraft had not issued a formal power of attorney to the pilot, granting him the right to manage the aircraft on behalf of the owner. This lack of documentation constitutes a violation of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAP-128, clause 2.20), which mandates that if the aircraft owner is not on board during aviation or aerial work flights, the pilot must possess a written authorization to operate the vessel.
Findings
- The pilot operated the An-2 RA-33675 without the legally required power of attorney from the aircraft owner.
- The flight was initiated to reposition the aircraft for upcoming agricultural spraying tasks.