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Russia’s Defense Ministry launches search for crashed Mi-28 helicopter flight recorders

The Mi-28 helicopter crashed when the Berkut aerobatic team was performing demonstration flights at the Dubrovichi aviation range in the Ryazan Region

MOSCOW, August 2. /TASS/. Special teams have started work at the crash site of a Mil Mi-28 helicopter in the Ryazan Region in central Russia to find and promptly dismantle the helicopter’s flight recorders and transfer them to experts for deciphering, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"The exact cause for the crash of the Mi-28 helicopter from the Berkut aerobatic team at the Dubrovichi range in the Ryazan Region will be established after the onboard flight recorders’ data are studied," the Defense Ministry said.

The Mi-28 helicopter crashed when the Berkut aerobatic team was performing demonstration flights at the Dubrovichi aviation range in the Ryazan Region. The helicopter went into a flat spin when performing an aerobatic program and made a crash landing.

Eye-witnesses say the helicopter’s tail rotor failed. As it was performing an aerobatic element, the helicopter started to rotate around its axis and descend. As a result, the helicopter fell onto its belly.

A technical failure is the likely cause for the crash of the Mi-28N helicopter in the Ryazan Region the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"According to a preliminary report by a hospitalized pilot of the Mi-28 helicopter, the onboard emergency alarm system reported a hydraulic boost system failure while the helicopter was performing an aerobatic element," the Defense Ministry said.

Russia’s Air Force Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bondarev has ordered to suspend Mil Mi-28 helicopter flights after a helicopter crash in central Russia, the Defense Ministry reported.