On February 17, 2023, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registered as RA-04340, was involved in a fatal accident approximately 17.8 km north of the Olenya Gorka landing site control tower in Russia. The flight was being operated by IP Karanova Maria Igorevna for the purpose of conducting aerial surveys.
At the time of the flight, the weather forecast for the area indicated a cloud base height of 900 meters above sea level and obscured mountains. The terrain along the flight route, which extended from Olenya Gorka toward Peak Chekhova, featured elevations up to 1050 meters. According to the operator's internal instructions, flying over mountains up to 2000 meters required a cloud base of at least 400 meters above ground level and visibility of at least 2000 meters.
The pilot-in-command proceeded with the flight despite the forecasted conditions not meeting the required flight weather minimums. After the aircraft was inspected and passengers were boarded, the pilot requested engine start permission from the Sakhalin Air Traffic Control Center at 03:59.
The accident occurred during controlled flight. The lack of visual contact with ground landmarks, combined with 'whiteness' on the underlying surface, led to a collision with the ground.