Aerobatting AN2 crashes in Moscow show- 2 crew lost

seconded, Rocketeer…

No breast-beating ritual from me Propstrike. I just found some aspects of this thread distasteful and at variance to how some forum people normally cover accidents in the west. First and foremost, two people tragically lost their lives.

Many accidents do look to have obvious causal factors. Flight safety and learning from experience (ours and others) are key cornerstones of my everyday work life.

From Flight Global…
Russian investigators have disclosed that the Antonov An-2 which crashed at an air show at Balashikha, killing both pilots, should not have been flying as its airworthiness certificate had expired nearly five years earlier.

Its left wing struck the ground, after the An-2 (RA-35171) descended and banked steeply at low altitude. The wing was torn off and the aircraft rolled inverted before igniting.

While federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia says the inquiry is continuing, it has sharply criticised the organisers of the 2 September flight, which took place at a show to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the An-2.

The crashed aircraft “was not supposed to [fly] at all”, it says, because the validity of its airworthiness certificate had expired in November 2012.

Although both crew held pilot licences, there is no evidence of official authorisation to fly the An-2, states Rosaviatsia, and the aircraft type is “not intended” to engage in the aerobatics undertaken during the flight.

Rosaviatsia accuses the flight’s organisers of having a “totally irresponsible attitude”, stressing that the crash occurred just in front of the spectator line, risking fatal injuries to dozens of attendees.

The “smoke on” from takeoff was an indication it was a display item.

Bit scary how low the exit and subsequent high energy turns were performed, pretty much zero room for error.

Still tragic though

Comparing Propstrikes video with some of the tragic ones above it makes me realise the thin margins between success and failure, and the results of such a fine error of judgement.

Those that fly know the risks. I feel for those left behind

I’m just into RC these days and the costs are just broken expanded foam and hurt pride for me!

OK, I am now aware that it was a display act, had been performed before, and this video shows how it was meant to have been.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud1RFzJ34sw

Funds are being raised to support the families of Dmitry Sukharev and Boris Tylevich – the two pilots who tragically died in the accident during the airshow in Moscow on September 2, 2017.

I couldn’t have worded that any better Propstrike….. thank you

Ah yes, the Good old ‘ stop speculating ‘ breast- beating ritual. Must remember to fit that in.

The cause, effect and outcome are there for all to see.

More useful than dissuading people from speculating is dissuading people from aerobatting 3 ton antique utility biplanes.

Mindful of complacency, I think that the UK display environment has now become much tighter recently in all aspects, certainly a different landscape from the Don Bullock/Jeff Hawke era of the 70’s, and whilst we have seen mishaps of various kinds , that willful sheer reckless bravado of flying to the very edge of disaster is not publicly seen in the UK.

It may be that the AN2 crew were not a display item as such, but performed some sort of fly-by, for the Antonov gathering and then got carried away, and out of their depth. That is just speculation………….

It is appalling, the videos are unsettling to watch, but some good may yet come out of the attention which this event as attracted.

Because its not in the U.K

Just an observation, but why so much speculation with this tragic accident? Normally we would try to dissuade people from speculating until an official report came out? Things are rarely what they seem.

A sad event. Indeed the flight manual should have provided a clue that this was not a wise thing to do. The problem is that, if done correctly, you can get away with a lot in aircraft not specifically designed for aerobatics. Just look at the 707 that was rolled or the spectacular displays that Matt Younkin puts up with his Beech 18. It takes a lot of practice though and leaves no room for error. Apparently this was one of those days where the margins were reduced to zero.

that was a spiral dive, he came out too low, banked to avoid the crowd and “stalled” the inner wings without actually stalling them, the only correct but impossible action at that alt would be to roll wings level and then pull up. its like a high speed stall but only on one side with the aircraft locked into an ever increasing yaw.

… but no …..

RIP

There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots…………….

Probably of theoretical interest only after the sad event, and knowing widespread usage, but according to the An-2 Flight Manual

http://www.avialogs.com/en/aircraft/ussr/antonov/an-2/4498flightmanualforan-2airplanewithash-62irengine.html

“Acrobatic flights” are forbidden (page 79). On page 81 we see that bank limitation in turn is 45 degrees.

Airspeed and altitude, but the aircraft was on a downward trajectory coming out of the roll which continued into the turn. Aerobating an An-2 is one thing but doesn’t this look more like a straightforward misjudgement?

Plenty of airspeed and altitude coming out of the barrel roll in my opinion. I think he just misjudged his height in the turn.

there are several companies reviving the An-2 by fitting turbines to them; one new version has no lower wing.

Not the first time they are aerobatted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VKjPf1SjpI

Is the An2 concidered suitable for aerobatics? Most displays I’ve seen with the type have been slow, sedate and to demonstrate it’s STOL capabilities.
Just wondered if it’s been used for full on aero’s before?