Overview
On February 7, 2020, the commander of a Bell-407 helicopter (registration RA-01893) performed flights to inspect livestock complexes located south of Kazan. The flight request was submitted in accordance with established procedures, and permission to use airspace was obtained with a planned departure time of 04:50.
Pre-flight Preparation
Pre-flight preparation, including the collection of aeronautical and meteorological information, was conducted by the commander independently. The weather forecast along the route met the commander's visual flight rules (VFR) minima. The helicopter carried one pilot and two passengers. The commander also performed aircraft preparation, refueling, and preflight inspection.
Aircraft and Crew
Note: The maintenance program for Bell-407 RA-01893 (serial number 53645), approved on February 26, 2009, states that operational maintenance and preflight/postflight inspections are performed by the crew as per the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). According to the commander, the fuel quantity before departure was 960 lb (≈435 kg).
Weight and Balance
The takeoff mass of the helicopter was approximately 2060 kg, within the RFM limit of 2268 kg (maximum takeoff and landing mass). Commission calculations showed a center of gravity of approximately 3223.8 mm, also within the allowable range of 3023 mm–3277 mm per the RFM.
Medical Examination
Due to the absence of a medical worker at the Transavto facility authorized to conduct medical examinations, no pre-flight medical check was performed. The commander made the decision to proceed with the flight, which did not contradict applicable regulations.