Engine failure leads to crash during forest fire survey mission

No fatalities • Zhigansk, Russia • Flight

A single-engine aircraft crashed in a wooded area near Zhigansk after experiencing an engine failure during a wildfire prevention mission.

What happened

During a morning flight intended for forest fire monitoring, a single-engine aircraft departed from Vilyuysk Airport. Approximately one hour and twenty minutes into the mission, the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power. In an attempt to perform an emergency landing following the failure, the crew navigated toward a wooded region where the plane impacted the ground.

Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire, resulting in the complete destruction of the airframe. The wreckage was subsequently located approximately 195 km southwest of Zhigansk. Despite the severity of the crash and the ensuing fire, there were zero fatalities among the three people on board, which included two pilots and one observer. All occupants survived the incident without injury.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the engine ceased functioning during flight due to a camshaft failure.

Probable cause

The engine stopped operating because of a failure in the camshaft.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1986-07-11 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Zhigansk, Russia?

A single-engine aircraft crashed in a wooded area near Zhigansk after experiencing an engine failure during a wildfire prevention mission.

Were there any fatalities in the 1986-07-11 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1986-07-11 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-70124, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Zhigansk, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The engine stopped operating because of a failure in the camshaft.

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