Flight Planning
On 16 July 2022, the pilot-in-command (PIC) planned a flight with passengers on a Robinson R-44 II helicopter, registration RA-07350, for general aviation purposes. The passengers were on board based on a verbal agreement between the PIC and the passengers. The flight was planned under visual flight rules (VFR) over the territory of the Kronotsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve in airspace classes C and G. The intended route was: Milkovo-2 landing site – Valley of Geysers – Uzon volcano – Kizimen volcano – Tumrok hot springs – Tolbachik volcano – Milkovo-2 landing site.
A request for the use of airspace was filed in advance with the Magadan Regional Center of the Unified Air Traffic Management System by the helicopter owner. The flight over the reserve and landing at unscheduled sites along the route were coordinated with the administration of the Kronotsky Reserve. Permission from the air traffic management authority was obtained in a timely manner.
Preflight Preparations
The Milkovo landing site, located approximately 1.2 km east of the control tower area of Milkovo aerodrome, served as the base for helicopter RA-07350. According to the owner, he arrived at the landing site at 11:30 and performed an operational preflight inspection of the helicopter. The helicopter had been fully refueled with AVGAS 100LL the day before. The takeoff weight, including the PIC, passengers, and fuel, did not exceed the maximum takeoff weight limitation of 1089 kg specified in the Robinson R-44 II rotorcraft flight manual.
The PIC and passengers arrived separately at the Milkovo landing site by 11:45. A preflight medical examination of the PIC was not conducted, which was not in conflict with the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR-128), as per the note: FAR-128 allows flights from aerodromes where no medical personnel is available.
Flight Details
The flight was planned to depart from Milkovo-2 and proceed over the reserve, with stops at various natural landmarks before returning to the departure point. No further information on the execution of the flight is available in the source.