Flight Details
On 6 August 2018, the pilot in command (PIC) was conducting flights in a Mil Mi-2M helicopter (experimental aircraft, registration RA-15629). The flight plan and airspace usage request were filed timely with the Yekaterinburg Area Control Center. The flight task for that day specified visual flight rules (VFR) at altitudes not lower than the safe minimum along a route with landings at landing sites chosen from the air. The purpose was to survey an oil pipeline and create sketches for future agricultural chemical work.
The pre-flight medical examination was not conducted. The PIC made the decision to accept the flight himself, which is permitted under Russian aviation regulations (FAP-128) for flights from aerodromes or landing sites without a medical worker.
Flight Sequence
At 02:30, the PIC received a weather forecast and clearance for airspace usage via telephone from the "Surgut-Information" dispatcher. At 03:00, the PIC took off with a service passenger on board. At 11:00, after refueling (300 liters) at the Osinik landing site, the PIC took off from the Nagorny landing site to clarify with workers of the Nagorny pipeline dispatch station which pipeline sections were to be chemically treated in the future—this had been arranged by phone.
Incident
Approximately six minutes after takeoff from Nagorny, the left engine experienced a self-shutdown. The PIC decided to carry out a forced landing to a site selected from the air. The subsequent outcome of the landing is not detailed in the source.
Investigation
The source material is a preliminary report from the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC). No probable cause has been stated.