Flight Planning and Preparation
The accident involved a Robinson R-44 helicopter registered as RA-04246. The pilot planned general aviation flights on 28 February 2020 in the Astrakhan region, operating from the Raskat landing site in Kamyzyaksky District. The helicopter was based at the Yezoka landing site near Yerzovka in Gorodishchensky District, Volgograd Region.
The flight from Yezoka to Raskat was scheduled for the morning of 28 February. According to the pilot's wife, his rest before the flight lasted no more than three hours. Departure from Yezoka took place at approximately 08:00, and the en-route flight time was about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Flight Operations
Between 11:00 and 18:50, the pilot conducted two flights from Raskat with a total flight time of approximately 7 hours. At 18:50, according to the pilot's wife, he reported readiness to depart on the return route from Raskat to Yezoka. The pilot performed preflight servicing and refueling at Raskat. The flight was planned in Class G airspace. No notification was submitted to air traffic control authorities.
A preflight medical examination was not conducted, which is not contrary to the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAP-128). FAP-128 states that when flights are performed from aerodromes or landing sites where no medical worker qualified to conduct examinations is present, the medical examination is not required, and the decision to allow crew members to fly is made by the pilot-in-command.
Accident and Aftermath
Takeoff from Raskat occurred at approximately 19:00. A worker at farm No. 5 heard the sound of a helicopter flying, followed by an explosion and subsequent fire. The worker and a comrade responded. The helicopter was destroyed, and the pilot died. No other individuals were reported injured. The accident investigation noted the lack of objective data regarding the flight history, relying on explanations from third parties.