A Bell 427 crashes in East Siberia

[collector]

RIA Novosti - Russia - Helicopter crashes in East Siberia, five people killed (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090510/121532050.html)

IRKUTSK, May 10 (RIA Novosti) - Five people, including the governor of the Irkutsk Region, were killed in a helicopter crash in East Siberia, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said on Sunday.
The helicopter, which was performing a regular observation flight, crashed early on Sunday southeast of Irkutsk.
"A Bell-427 private helicopter was discovered today at about 12:30 p.m. Moscow time [8:30 GMT] by a Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian Emergencies Ministry in a hard-to-access area in the direction towards Lake Baikal 90 km southeast of Irkutsk," Irina Andrianova, the ministry's spokeswoman said
Igor Yesipovsky, 49, was appointed governor of the Irkutsk Region in late November 2008.
An investigation into the incident has been launched.

[heli1]

VFR only 427 sold in Siberia...someone did a good sales job there !

[Runway101]

I am a complete outsider, but I have the feeling that some of the officials and VIPs on the backseats of these helicopters are not fully aware of the dangers involved. Especially under those circumstances (weather, visibility, terrain, location, etc).

[twistair]

It's likely Bell 407, reg. RA-01895 s/n 53691, former C-FIAJ

[alouette]

According to the Russian civil aviation aircraft register the helicopter in question is a 407.

[ppheli]

RA-01895 registration confirmed - see photo of tail boom here (http://www.irk.ru/news/20090511/version/?current=14583) and thus confirmed as 407 not 427. The only 427 in Russia is RA-01923. The 407s are in the range 01890 to 01899.

[alouette]

Yep, that does not look good:uhoh:

[GeorgeMandes]

9 on board a 407, including 5 "crew?"

NTSB Identification: ERA09WA286
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Non-U.S., Commercial operation of Unknown
Accident occurred Sunday, May 10, 2009 in Malyshkino, Russia
Aircraft: BELL 407, registration: RA-01895AO
Injuries: 9 Fatal.
On October 5, 2009, approximately 1001 universal time coordinated, a Bell 407 helicopter, Russian registration RA-01895AO, impacted terrain in the Irkutsk region approximately 3 kilometers from Malyshkino, Cheremshanka. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The 5 crew and 4 passengers were killed. The flight's last departure point was approximately 62 kilometers from the Irkutsk Airport (UIII), Irkutsk, Russia, and its intended destination.

[widgeon]

5 crew ?. How did they all fit in the front seats .

Wait a minute , oct 2009 ? this is very strange . Is the Russian Calander that different . 5/10 or 10/5 .

[GJM]

A lot of things that are not of the normal sort go on over there.

I've been on quite a few Russian flights and it was not uncommon to have 4-5 crew.

Some just crouch down in the cockpit, some stand in with the PAX...again crouching down or sitting on the deck if flight full.

The list goes on!

[Tango and Cash]

I understand a lot of the US rules (number of seats = number of passengers) don't apply in Russia, but how do you physically fit nine people in a 407?

[birrddog]

2 in front
2 in rear facing seats in back
3 in forward facing seats in back
---
7
+
2 sitting on the floor?
--
9
?

[skidbiter2]

They must have all been kids in that case!
It's hard enough fitting 5 in the back, with their legs intermeshing, let alone trying to stand another couple in there!
But who knows.....

[birrddog]

Heh, with my wife traveling with it's hard to fit two in the back with all her luggage :}

[widgeon]

Please this is not that kind of site :O

[Tmbstory]

Widgeon and Gjm:

In Far Eastern Russia the general numbers of Flight crew were Captain, Co-Pilot, Engineer, Radio Operator and as the story goes, the Representative of the Border Authorities. ( to ensure that the crew stayed in the Russian Federation).

Tmb