Flight Overview
On 1 May 2022, the crew of a Mi-8T helicopter (registration RA-4212) operated by OOO Most Avia conducted a flight in support of forestry aviation work. The flight crew consisted of three crew members and one observer pilot. The flight was planned along a route from Sretensk (p.p. Sretensk) to geo point 1, geo point 2, then to Mogocha (p.p. Mogocha), and back to Sretensk, as per flight assignment № 01/05.
Preflight Preparations
The crew and aviation technical staff arrived at Sretensk at 04:00 and began helicopter preparations. The crew obtained and analyzed weather forecasts from internet sources, including the AIS "METAVIA2" system. The forecasted conditions were suitable for visual flight rules (VFR). Since no medical officer was present at Sretensk, the captain decided on crew fitness in accordance with paragraph 8.10.1 of FAP-128, which allows the captain to authorize flight without a preflight medical examination when such personnel are unavailable. The captain also confirmed by phone with the Central Flight Information and Control Service of the Regional Center of the Unified Air Traffic Management System (Irkutsk) that the airspace usage notification had been submitted and approved.
Flight Execution
At 05:06, the captain started the engines, warmed them up, and tested the helicopter systems in accordance with the Mi-8T Flight Manual. After confirming all systems were operational, the captain performed a hover check and subsequently took off from Sretensk at 05:15. The flight proceeded toward the vicinity of the settlement of Moklaka (n.p. Moklaka). The airspace class for the flight was G, and the planned route was flown at an altitude of 300 meters. The airspace usage notification had been filed via email at 02:31 on 1 May 2022 and was granted by the Regional Center (Irkutsk).