On December 5, 2017, a Robinson R-44 II, registration RA-04308, was conducting a chartered flight for the purpose of patrolling pipeline facilities. The flight was scheduled to depart from the Podkumok landing site at 06:00, traveling to the Uspenskaya pumping station and returning. The mission was part of an aviation services contract between LLC BARKOL and JSC Chernomortransneft.
Prior to departure, the captain obtained weather updates via telephone from the Piatigorsk Meteorological Center. The pilot performed a pre-flight inspection of the RA-04308 aircraft in accordance with the flight manual, and maintenance tasks had been completed by a technician. The flight was planned to operate in ICAO class G airspace.
During the flight, the pilot encountered weather conditions that were unsuitable for visual flight. While performing a turn, the pilot lost spatial orientation, specifically losing control over the bank angle and flight altitude. This resulted in a collision with the ground in the area of the Dubovaya Balka settlement in the Stavropol region.
The accident resulted in two fatalities and no other injuries.