Overview
On July 18, 2024, a flight of a Robinson R44II helicopter, registration RA-04252, was planned by the general director of SakhaTreyd LLC. The intended route was from Aldan to the Levaya Chagdala mine, then to an island at the confluence of the Gonam and Uchur rivers, and back to Aldan. The purpose was to transport two passengers from Aldan to the mine, then pick up seven passengers from the mine to the island, where they would be transferred to two helicopters (the R44II and a Mi-2) for the final leg to Aldan. No flight plan was filed with air traffic control authorities.
Preflight Preparation
The pilot-in-command (PIC) performed the aircraft preparation. A witness, identified as a mechanic of SakhaTreyd LLC, stated that the helicopter was technically ready for the flight. He claimed that all scheduled maintenance had been completed, technical fluids were checked, and the aircraft had no technical faults at the time of departure. However, the mechanic had been appointed by the general director on February 1, 2024, as responsible for preparing the R44II (serial number 12245) and another R44 (serial number 1423) for flight. Despite this responsibility, the mechanic had not undergone professional training in the prescribed manner and did not hold the appropriate aviation personnel certificate. Due to the absence of the helicopter's logbook, it was impossible to document the scope of work performed during the preflight preparation.
Personnel and Flight Planning
The PIC did not obtain a meteorological briefing from the aviation meteorological units of the Yakutsk Department for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring. The Aviation Information System "MetAvia2" was also not consulted. The flight was conducted without official weather information.
Summary
The planned operation involved regulatory and procedural deficiencies, including the lack of a flight plan, absence of a qualified maintenance professional, and missing weather briefing. The aircraft itself was reported as serviceable, but the lack of documentation precludes verification of the maintenance scope.