Accident Details
On an unspecified date, an Antonov AN-2 single-engine aircraft, registration RA-40373, took off from an open field near Goryachy Klyuch in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The aircraft was tasked with aerial treatment of a wooded area using chemical products, and it carried approximately 700 liters of this product at the time of the accident.
Shortly after takeoff, while at a height of about 15 meters, the aircraft stalled and subsequently crashed on the shore of a river. Both pilots sustained injuries, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the accident resulted from the nose striking the ground during a forced landing necessitated by the shutdown of the ASz-62IR engine while in the process of taking off. The engine failure was most likely due to ingress of water into the carburetor from the aircraft's fuel system.
The investigation identified a combination of contributing factors:
- Failure to comply with guidelines regarding the checking of facilities for storing and dispensing aviation fuels and lubricants, as well as monitoring and verification of fuel sludge discharge after refueling to ensure absence of water and solids.
- Execution of a forced landing straight ahead, outside the designated landing area, on difficult terrain characterized by forests, a rugged ravine, and a creek.