Flight Planning
On 1 November 2016, the pilot-in-command of an AS 350 B3e helicopter, registration RA-07275, operated by ZAO Aviapredpriyatie Eltsovka, planned a familiarization flight over the Black Sea coast near Sochi, Adler District. The flight was to carry five passengers as per a request from OOO Vip Shuttle Sochi dated 26 October 2016. The pilot filed a flight plan for a route departing from a landing site in the village of Kazachiy Brod, Sochi, and including waypoints: Moldovsky Bridge, Olympic Park, Moldovsky Bridge, Khosta microdistrict, a mountain 4 km northwest of Khosta, Khosta microdistrict, and returning to the departure site. The route traversed rough terrain and populated areas near Sochi (Adler) aerodrome. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules in Class C airspace under the direction of the Sochi MDP controller. The pilot used the Aeronautical Information Collection No. 110 of the Rostov ZC ATM Center for aerodromes and heliports of the Northwestern RC AIS. Preflight preparation was completed one hour before departure. The pilot obtained weather information by telephone.
The Flight
At 10:52 local time, the pilot took off from the helipad near Kazachiy Brod, Sochi, with five persons on board, matching the number of seats. The pilot occupied the right seat, the standard crew position. The takeoff mass was 2068 kg, and the center of gravity was +3.45 m, both within limits. The flight to the shoreline was uneventful.
The Incident
As the helicopter approached the coastline, the pilot executed a right turn, most likely to proceed to the next waypoint, Olympic Park. During the turn, the aircraft developed an intense right bank accompanied by an increasing rate of descent. At 10:57:17, the helicopter was observed in this condition. Further details are not available.