Robinson R44 Crash in Amur Oblast Results in Three Fatalities

3 fatalities • РФ, Бурейский муниципальный округ Амурской области

A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in the Bureysky Municipal District of Russia on February 19, 2026, resulting in three fatalities. The aircraft, registration RA-04261, was operating without a filed flight plan or air traffic control notification.

On February 19, 2026, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration RA-04261, was engaged in a planned flight originating from Belogorsk. The pilot-in-command intended to transport three passengers along a route connecting the village of Amaranka to a landing site near the enterprise of Individual Entrepreneur 'Chekmarev I.N.' and finally to the village of Romny.

The pilot did not file a flight plan with the Regional Center of Air Traffic Management and did not notify air traffic control authorities of the flight. Additionally, the pilot did not request weather information from the official meteorological agency, and no pre-flight medical examination was conducted for the pilot-in-command. Records for the aircraft's technical maintenance were also not maintained.

At approximately 16:30, the helicopter landed in the Amaranka area at a site selected from the air. The aircraft carried one passenger in the front left seat and two passengers in the rear seats. The pilot took off from this location at 17:20, flying at altitudes between 70 and 150 meters with speeds ranging from 140 to 150 km/h.

After performing two flybys to inspect the destination landing site, the pilot landed at approximately 18:15. The accident occurred during a flight over an unmapped, forested area under conditions of insufficient natural lighting.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilot's decision to operate the flight under conditions where visual flight rules (VFR) could not be maintained, leading to a loss of spatial orientation and a ground collision. Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to adhere to the provisions of the R44 helicopter's flight manual regarding safety notices.

All Robinson R44 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2026-02-19 Robinson R44 accident near РФ, Бурейский муниципальный округ Амурской области?

A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in the Bureysky Municipal District of Russia on February 19, 2026, resulting in three fatalities. The aircraft, registration RA-04261, was operating without a filed flight plan or air traffic control notification.

Were there any fatalities in the 2026-02-19 Robinson R44 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 3 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2026-02-19 involved a Robinson R44, registration RA-04261, operated by Частное лицо, at РФ, Бурейский муниципальный округ Амурской области.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilot's decision to operate the flight under conditions where visual flight rules (VFR) could not be maintained, leading to a loss of spatial orientation and a ground collision. Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to adhere to the provisions of the R44 helicopter's flight…

Loading the flight search…