MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The June crash of the Mi-8 helicopter owned by the company Gazpromavia was caused by a failure of the helicopter's anti-torque propeller, the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) said in a release.
The IAC has completed the field investigation into the crash, which occurred in the Volgograd region on July 22.
The IAC has found that the helicopter crashed after its anti-torque propeller failed 47 minutes into the flight.
"A decision was made to make an emergency landing. During the emergency landing, when the helicopter was 15-20 meters about the ground, the anti-torque propeller and tail reducing gear box became separated [from the helicopter] and the helicopter started rotating to the left uncontrollably. While landing and rotating at the same time, the helicopter fell on its left side and caught fire," the report says.
Debris of the anti-torque propeller were found 2,300 meters from the crash scene. The debris has been sent for forensic tests, which will determine the cause of the failure.
According to earlier reports, a Mi-8 helicopter (Flight 22961) left the Gorodishinsky district of the Volgograd region in the morning of July 22. The helicopter was carrying eight people, including three crewmembers and five officials from Lukoil-Vologogradneftegaz. The helicopter crashed 5 km from the village of Moiseyevo, Kotovsky district of the Vologograd region. All passengers and crewmembers died in the crash.