Bell 407 accident near Podnovye, Ru, March 22, 2012
On March 22, 2012 at about 6:15 am local time, a Bell 407, registered RA01931, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Podnovye. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 2012 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Podnovye, Russia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 407 · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- RA01931 · no longer on the register · serial 538822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 22, 2012, about 0615 coordinated universal time, a Bell 407, Russian registration RA-01931, was substantially damaged when it impacted electrical utility wires and the Volga River while on approach to a private landing area near Podnovye, Russia. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight, which had originated from a private landing area near Bunkovo, Russia, at an undetermined time. The accident is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Russia. This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Russia. Additional information may be obtained from: Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) 22/2/1 Bolshaya Ordynka Str. Moscow 119017, Russia Tel: +7 (495) 953-57-42 Fax: +7(495) 953-57-42
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach defining event
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bunkovo
- Destination: Podnovye
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.