On 2 July 2013, Polar Airlines Flight 9949, a Mil Mi-8 helicopter operated by Polar Airlines crashed near Deputatsky, an urban locality of Ust-Yansky District in the Sakha Republic, Russia, with 25 passengers (including 11 children) and three crew members on board. "Children die in air crash in Russia's Sakha Republic", BBC News, 2 July 2013 "Russian helicopter crash kills at least 19", Reuters, 2 July 2013 According to a Ministry of Emergency Situations spokesman, 24 people died in the crash; the three crew members and a child survived. "24 Dead in Siberia Helicopter Crash", RIA Novosti, 3 July 2013 Early reports suggested that the pilot lost control of the helicopter due to strong winds. The crash was investigated by the Interstate Aviation Committee. "Helicopter Crash in Siberia Kills at Least 19 – Officials", RIA Novosti, 2 July 2013

Accident At 10:00 PM local time, the flight crew underwent a pre-flight medical exam at the local hospital in the village of Deputatsky, with no health concerns noted the crew were cleared to operate the flight, which was scheduled for 11:00 PM local time. The flight mechanic refueled the helicopter with 2800 liters of ice resistant fuel. At 10:30 PM, the pilots received the meteorological forecast for the route, seeing no concerns he signed it off.

At 11:38 PM, the Pilot in Command requested to take-off using Visual flight rules, and to start their engines, they received confirmation for both. At 11:51 PM, flight 9949 received take-off clearance 51 minutes past the scheduled departure time, soon after the flight lifted off making a right hand turn. At 11:58:46 PM, the flight crew reported their status to the dispatch office, this was the last radio communication from flight 9949.

At 12:13 AM, the helicopter crashed into an elevated outcropping, completely destroying the aircraft. At 12:34, the PIC using a satellite phone called to report the crash, and that there were some survivors but many more fatalities. In total all 3 crew members and 1 passenger survived the crash.

References

External links "02.07.2013 Ми-8Т RA-22657." Interstate Aviation Committee. Current IAC page, in Russian Final Report