Antonov AN-70 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft departed Omsk Airport on a test flight to Yakutsk, carrying 22 passengers and a crew of 11 in order to perform a test flight in low-temperature flight conditions, as part of the Ukrainian manufacturer's certification program. During initial climb, at a height of 20 metres, the engine n°3 lost power. The crew increased power on all three other engines and continued to climb. Less than 25 seconds laters, at a height of about 60 metres, the engine n°1 failed. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a snow covered terrain located 660 metres past the runway end. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest with severe damages to the fuselage (almost broke in two at wings level) and engines. All 33 occupants were rescued, among them four were injured, two seriously.

Probable cause:

The loss of power on engine n°3 was the result of the rupture of a hydraulic line located near the rotor. This failure caused a reduction of the blades' rotation on both propellers (counter-rotating system), creating severe vibrations. The crew increased power on all three remaining engines when a technical malfunction occurred on an electric sensor coupled to the turbine of the engine n°1, causing the automatic control unit to fail and the engine n°1 to stop.

Crash of an Antonov AN-70 in Veliky Lis: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1995 at 1609 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-70

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Kiev - Kiev

MSN:

01 01

YOM:

1994

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The aircraft, first prototype of this model AN-70, departed Kiev-Gostomel Airport on a test flight with seven crew members on board. The goal of the flight was to test the stability and controllability of the airplane for the certification program. An Antonov AN-72 registered UR-72966 and also operated by Antonov Design Bureau departed the same airport to take part to the same control flight. While cruising at an altitude of 3,200 metres, the crew of the AN-70 elected to approach the AN-72 but misjudged the distance, causing both airplanes to collided. The tail of the AN-70 struck the fuselage of the AN-72. The crew of the AN-72 was able to return to Kiev-Gostomel Airport and to complete a safe landing. All crew members were uninjured but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to severe structural damages. Upon impact, the AN-70 lost its left stabiliser and also a part of the tail. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located in Veliky Lis, about 45 km northwest of Kiev-Gostomel Airport. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the collision was the consequence of errors on part of the AN-70 crew who misjudged the distance between both aircraft and initiated a hazardous maneuver without knowing the exact position of the second aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The collision occurred while both aircraft were facing sun,
- Both crew did not use appropriate radio communications,
- Loss of situational awareness,
- Loss of the left horizontal stabiliser as well as part of the tail, failure of all four hydraulic systems, loss of controllability.