Mari Petroleum Chartered Helicopter Crashes in Waziristan

[Abbas Ali]

A foreign registered Mi-8 helicopter chartered by Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) for personnel/staff transportation has crashed near Shewa in North Waziristan after experiencing engine problem soon after takeoff from Shewa oil/gas field.

During emergency landing attempt, the helicopter's tail rotor impacted the ground and it lost control and crashed. The helicopter was carrying a total of 14 people including 3 Russian crew members. Unfortunately, 6 people died in the crash. 8 Injured in the crash have been shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Thal.

No evidence of sabotage/terrorism found in the crash. Accident investigation has been initiated by the authorities.

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

A foreign registered Mi-8 helicopter chartered by Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) for personnel/staff transportation has crashed near Shewa in North Waziristan after experiencing engine problem soon after takeoff from Shewa oil/gas field.

During emergency landing attempt, the helicopter's tail rotor impacted the ground and it lost control and crashed. The helicopter was carrying a total of 14 people including 3 Russian crew members. Unfortunately, 6 people died in the crash. 8 Injured in the crash have been shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Thal.

No evidence of sabotage/terrorism found in the crash. Accident investigation has been initiated by the authorities.

Abbas

It was a Ukrainian hel wet leased by Princely Jets and Chartered by Mari. Both deceased pilots were from Ukraine.

[Abbas Ali]

^ Thank you for the info.

According to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statement on news media:

On September 28, the helicopter left Islamabad at 11:15 AM for a flight to Shewa in North Waziristan.

The helicopter departed from Shewa at 1:15 PM for a flight to Islamabad via Bannu.

Helicopter occupants included 6 crew members, 1 safety officer and 14 passengers.

Due to engine problem the helicopter attempted an emergency landing in Shewa. The helicopter flipped over after being able to land.

During emergency landing helicopter tail rotor struck ground.

Pakistan Army launched search and rescue operation from Peshawar.

The helicopter was used for Mari Petroleum oil and gas exploration projects in remote areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) .

The helicopter was on wet lease to Princely Jets (https://princelyjets.com/) of Pakistan from PANH Helicopters (https://panh.ru/) of Russia.

Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for six months was issued for helicopter by Pakistan CAA in compliance with wet lease legal requirements.

Helicopter's six-month wet lease term was expiring on September 28, 2024.

PANH Helicopters of Russia was responsible for helicopter maintenance and crew training.

Pakistan's Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) has launched accident investigation.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to news reports:

The crashed helicopter was Mi-8MTV-1 construction number 97518 built in 2020 by Kazan Helicopters in Russia and registered in Russia as RA-24537.

Year 2023 photo of the same helicopter: https://www.airliners.net/photo/PANH-He ... /7247969/L

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

A foreign registered Mi-8 helicopter chartered by Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) for personnel/staff transportation has crashed near Shewa in North Waziristan after experiencing engine problem soon after takeoff from Shewa oil/gas field.

During emergency landing attempt, the helicopter's tail rotor impacted the ground and it lost control and crashed. The helicopter was carrying a total of 14 people including 3 Russian crew members. Unfortunately, 6 people died in the crash. 8 Injured in the crash have been shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Thal.

No evidence of sabotage/terrorism found in the crash. Accident investigation has been initiated by the authorities.

Abbas

It was a Ukrainian hel wet leased by Princely Jets and Chartered by Mari. Both deceased pilots were from Ukraine.

Thank you for correction on the nationality of crew and origin of crashed helicopter.

[Abbas Ali]

September 28, 2024, photos/videos of PANH Helicopters Mi-8MTV-1 (registration RA-24537) wet leased to Princely Jets and chartered by Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) accident in Shewa, North Waziristan, emerge on social media.




Video shows helicopter fuselage shaking with its main rotor spinning. Tail boom already broken/separated. Helicopter fuselage appears intact/undamaged here.


Here helicopter fuselage appears broken and cockpit damaged. Main roto blades also appear damaged/broken.


Russian flag on tail.


PANH Helicopters title on fuselage.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

The Embassy of Russia in Pakistan regrets to inform that two Russian citizens and a Belarusian pilot who were aboard the helicopter that crashed on September 28 in North Waziristan have been identified as dead.

https://www.facebook.com/russianembassypakistan/

[TAILWIND]

As per eye witnesses (can't comment on the authenticity, but appear plausible), the helicopter experienced engine failure just after take off. Pilots attempted to return to the helipad. During final flare the tail hit the ground and rotors chopped the tail boom and main rotor blades too got severed. The helicopter with fuselage intact came to rest, but with remaining engine running and rotors (whatever was left) turning, as shown in the first picture/video.

This should have been a safe outcome and most likely survivable. Fuselage and cockpit in tact.
The disaster happened thereon. As shown in the second picture

Here helicopter fuselage appears broken and cockpit damaged. Main rotor blades also appear damaged/broken.

For some unknown reason, the crew did not cut the engine, either shocked or incapacitation. Broken and out balance main rotor, while turning induced severe ground resonance (a phenomenon common to helicopters) which resulted in violent shaking of the fuselage. As a result one of the engine's mounts broke and the engine fell into the fwd cabin and resulted in the fuselage split.
But this still does not explain the destruction of cockpit. Will wait for official report

[Abbas Ali]

^ Very useful input - thank you for sharing.

Abbas