What happened
During a mission to apply insecticides to cotton plantations for a local agricultural enterprise, an aircraft experienced significant mechanical issues shortly after departing from a location approximately 45 km from Shardara, Kazakhstan. While attempting to climb, the crew struggled with insufficient engine performance, preventing the plane from reaching an adequate altitude.
As the aircraft flew over a wooded area at speeds below 120 km/h, it collided with the tops of poplar trees situated roughly 2,190 metres from the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to stall and crash approximately 35 metres beyond the initial tree strike. The pilot died at the scene of the impact. The co-pilot survived the initial collision but became trapped within the cockpit. A fire broke out in the engine compartment several minutes after the crash, leading to the death of the second crew member.
Findings
Investigations determined that the primary cause of the accident was engine power loss caused by two valves being obstructed by calamine deposits. Several environmental and operational factors contributed to the mechanical failure, including:
- Operation of the aircraft in a dusty environment
- High outside air temperature (OAT)
- The use of poor quality fuel