# NTSB ERA16WA081: Bell 429, Rostov-na-Dony, Russia, January 1, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: January 1, 2016, 06:21 local (06:21 UTC)
- Place: Rostov-na-Dony, Russia
- Coordinates: 47.225833, 40.022499 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2258&lon=40.0225&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92536
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16WA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92536/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16WA081

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

Subject: ERA16WA081 Bell 429, RA-01617, Rostov-na-Dony, Russia On January 1, 2016, about 0621 universal coordinated time, a Bell 429, Russian registration RA-01617, was substantially damaged by collision with terrain during an uncontrolled descent following a loss of aircraft control while on approach to land. The Russian certificated pilots were seriously injured. The flight was destined for Rostov-na-Dony, Russia. According to investigators, the helicopter had descended to approximately 90 feet altitude while on approach to land, when the helicopter began to rotate to the right and climb to an altitude of about 200 feet, before it descended uncontrolled to ground contact. The helicopter was operating in a river valley, and weather observations around the time of the accident included conditions conducive to restrictions to visibility due to freezing mist or fog. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Interstate Aviation Committee of Russia. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) Fax: +7(495) 953-57-42 Office phone: +7(495) 953-96-59 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Russia.

## Aircraft

- Registration: RA-01617 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 429
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 557197
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney PW207D1 625 horsepower turbo shaft; Pratt and Whitney PW207D1 625 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Flash Energy Company
- Registered owner: Flash Energy Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Rostov-na-Donu
- Destination: Rostov-na-Dony
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: serious
- Co-pilot; injuries: serious

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: variable at 1 knots
- Temperature: 5 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Observed at: URRR, 10 nm away

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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