What happened
On October 3, 2020, a Mil Mi-2, registration RA-23731, was conducting a flight near Srednekolymsk to transport a group of passengers and cargo. The flight was operated by the pilot, who also owned the aircraft, for the purpose of supporting a photography group. The mission began at the Yuzhnaya settlement, where the pilot departed at approximately 22:00 toward a hunting cabin located 50 km southeast of Srednekolymsk.
After landing at the hunting cabin to unload cargo and disembark one passenger, the aircraft continued to fly within a 15–20 km radius of the cabin to scout for suitable photography locations. The pilot eventually identified a site and performed a landing using a hover mode to disembark the remaining passengers. Following this, the pilot and one remaining passenger, an aircraft technician, departed to find a suitable landing area for parking while waiting for the photography group.
At approximately 23:00, while attempting to land at the selected site, the Mil Mi-2 tipped onto its right side. During the maneuver, the main rotor blades struck the ground, causing significant damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, including the pilot's actions during the scouting phase and the landing attempt. The crew's accounts indicated that the primary purpose of the flight was to transport friends for a photography session. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was carrying a total of 2 occupants (the pilot and one passenger) at the time of the accident, which was within the aircraft's maximum capacity limits.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained structural damage due to the main rotor blades striking the ground during the rollover event.
- There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries resulting from the accident, as the pilot and passenger were able to exit the aircraft safely.