The Interstate Aviation Committee has completed the field phase of the investigation into the Bell 407 helicopter crash that killed Irkutsk Region Governor Igor Esipovsky. The approximate crash time was established, the helicopter had no flight recorders, and the damaged engine control unit was sent to the United States for analysis. According to the IAC, the damage analysis found no visible signs of in flight equipment failure, and fuel samples from refueling sites and Irkutsk Airport were found to be satisfactory.
The Interstate Aviation Committee commission completed the field stage of the investigation into the crash of the Bell-407 helicopter on June 3, in which Irkutsk Region Governor Igor Esipovsky died on May 10.The commission established the approximate time of the crash — 00:13 local time. The helicopter is not equipped with onboard recorders.
The engine control unit found at the crash site in the Irkutsk national park has a puncture, traces of impact, and signs of exposure to high temperatures from the fire; for this reason, it was impossible to read the data from the unit on site using special equipment. It was sent to the United States for examination. During the inspection and analysis of the nature of the destruction of the helicopter fragments and its systems by commission members and experts from Bell Helicopter A Textron Company and Rolls-Royce, no visible signs of aircraft equipment failure in flight were found.
"Analyses of fuel samples taken from the containers at the helicopter refueling site and from the containers of the airport fuel depot in Irkutsk showed that it was serviceable," the IAC statement, cited by RIA Novosti, says. The electronic engine control unit seized from the scene has a puncture and other damage, due to which it was impossible to read the data from the unit on site using special equipment.