Background
An aircraft was based at a site near the settlement of Kirsalovo, Proletarsky District, Rostov Region, for agricultural chemical work under a paid service agreement between the pilot-in-command and Energiya LLC dated 06 April 2020.
On 05 July 2020, while performing an agricultural flight, during a turn the pilot heard a strike in the beam behind left near the engine, which he recognized as a slipping freewheel clutch. The engine did not shut down. After landing, a maintenance technician inspected the aircraft. The pilot ordered the replacement of the freewheel clutches, but the technician did not replace them and stated that the clutch was normal and offered to fly with the pilot to prove it.
Incident Description
On 06 July 2020, at approximately 01:35 (04:35 local time), the pilot started the engines with the technician as a passenger seated in the right pilot seat. No discrepancies were noted before takeoff. At approximately 01:39, the pilot and passenger took off. No notification of airspace usage was filed with the Rostov Center of the Unified Air Traffic Management System. The flight was conducted in Class G airspace.
According to the pilot's explanation, the intended flight was a short left-hand box pattern, with a takeoff into wind followed by a gradual left turn while climbing. Upon reaching a safe altitude of 30–35 meters and a speed of approximately 70 km/h, the first left turn was executed. During this turn, the engine shut down. The landscape and obstacles allowed for a landing only ahead of the aircraft.