Robinson R44 accident near Avacha`, Ru, May 3, 2016
On May 3, 2016 at about 3:47 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered RA2118G, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Avacha`. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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
- May 3, 2016 · about 3:47 am local time
- Place
- Avacha`, Russia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- RA2118G · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 3, 2016, about 0347 UTC, a Robinson Helicopter R44, Russian registered RA-2118G was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain near Kamchatka, Russia, while on a flight from Khalaktyrka, Russia to Karymshina, Russia. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK). Any further information pertaining to this may obtained from: Interstate Aviation Committee 22/2/1 Bolshaya Ordynka Str. Moscow, 119017, Russia Office: +7(495)953-96-59 Fax: +7(495)953-57-42 This report is for information purposes and contains only information released by the government of Russia.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: Khalaktyrka
- Destination: Karymshina
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.