What happened
On May 14, 2016, an AS-350B3 helicopter, registration RA-07259, was performing a scheduled flight from the Sosny settlement to the Lepsari settlement. The flight was operated by a pilot accompanied by one passenger. The pilot initiated takeoff at 05:54.
During the early stages of the flight, while traveling over Sukhodolskoye Lake toward Ladoga Lake, the aircraft struck power lines. Witnesses observed the helicopter making contact with electrical wires, which caused the aircraft to plummet into the water. The exact time of the impact was determined to be 05:55 local time, coinciding with the activation of electrical protection equipment triggered by the severed power lines.
Upon hitting the surface of the lake, the aircraft sustained severe damage and subsequently sank. The accident resulted in two fatalities, involving both the pilot and the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators determined the timing of the accident by analyzing the response of the electrical grid protection systems, which recorded a disruption caused by the breaking of the power lines. Observations from ground personnel noted that the aircraft had reached an altitude of approximately 20 meters before the collision occurred.