Mi-2 crash near Olyokminsk

On Thursday 29 May 1969, in the vicinity of Olyokminsk in Yakutia, a Mi-2 of the Aeroflot company crashed, killing 25 people. It was the first and the largest known crash of a Mi-2.

Crash

The Mi-2 helicopter with tail number USSR-20063 (serial number 510744088, built in 1969) was performing transport flights to evacuate residents of Kyllakh Island owing to ice jams on the Lena River. It was flown by a crew consisting of the commander (PIC) B. T. Ippolitov and the navigator A. Ya. Nechaev. The first flight was performed successfully. However, on the second, 26 passengers boarded: 7 adults, 8 schoolchildren and 11 preschool children. The take-off weight was thereby exceeded by 475 kilograms. The pilot then hovered at a low height above the ground and began to accelerate towards the river. But when the Mi-2 reached the edge of the bluff, the "air cushion" beneath it disappeared, which also sharply reduced the lift. Descending over the river, the helicopter struck the bank with its tail rotor. Having lost control, the machine spun to the left, fell onto the ice and overturned, and 10—15 minutes later sank. Both crew members and one adult female passenger survived the accident. All the other 25 passengers (6 adults and 19 children) were killed. The helicopter pilot did not live to see the trial; he died in unexplained circumstances during the investigation. The navigator admitted his guilt and was sentenced by the republican court of the Yakut ASSR to capital punishment; later the sentence was appealed in the Supreme Court of the RSFSR and commuted to eight years' imprisonment.