I have fished and flown on the Kola since 1990 and have fished the Kharlovka and Rynda many times . Just as you do in heliskiing , you all crouch down right next to the skids . In dynamic roll over I don't think the blades would hit you but the cabin would roll onto you . If you lifted with one skid stuck you could easily bank over to a level where the blades could hit the ground or a higher rock .
We used an Mi8 and Mi4 which worked very well . Very rugged and with big tyres dealt with the ground well . At a later stage a squirrel was brought in just for moving up and down the river but didn't cope as well . Very sad as I think this is the first fatality from a helicopter on the rivers in 25 years . The Russian helicopters and pilots have always been first rate out there in my opinion .