Distressed Naval Helicopter Landed on Island in Kara Sea

20.09.2012 ASW helicopter Ka-27 based on Russian nuclear-powered missile cruiser Petr Veliky landed in distress on an island in the Kara Sea, reports Interfax. Nobody suffered in the incident; it is unknown whether the helicopter got any damage. There is no information about the reasons of the accident either.

According to Russian defense ministry, the accident occurred early in the morning of Sept 20 in the eastern part of Kotelny Island of the New Siberian Archipelago. The helicopter was performing scheduled flight to practice airborne landing drill. Due to the accident, all flights of Ka-27 from the cruiser were suspended.

Nuclear-powered missile cruiser Petr Veliky built in 1996 is the only Project 1144 Orlan ship in Russian Navy. This is the world's largest non-aircraft carrying strike surface warship. The cruiser accommodates two ship-based Ka-27 helicopters.

This is the second accident happened to Ka-27 since May 2009 when such helicopter fell down in the Baltic Sea. When landing frigate Yaroslav Mudry, the helicopter hit the deck erection by rotor blades and fell in the sea. Five men aboard the helicopter were rescued; later, the aircrew commander faced court martial.