Mi-17? Oman

[Ada Quonsett]

Is this a Mi-17? On the beach in Dalkut, about 160 kms West of Salalah, Oman. http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa208/ctzero/

[skadi]

Yes, it looks like a Mi8/17.
Forced landing due to overload with sand?

skadi

[CareBear]

The aircraft is an MI8.
I was working in Oman at the time it forced landed on the beach - around 1997 I think.
It had left Yemen with some high ranking Yemeni officials on board who were trying to escape to Salalah during the local troubles. The pilots encountered bad weather and were unable to cope as they were not instrument trained, and ended up crashing / force landing on the beach.

[Ada Quonsett]

The aircraft is an MI8

Thanks, much appreciated.

[Jed A1]

I like the pic of the rotorhead and MRG. The MRG casing has eroded / corroded away, almost in a cutaway fashion, to reveal the internal gears.