On July 27, an emergency occurred at a Russian airfield involving a Mi-26, the world’s largest serial transport helicopter. The incident occurred in the morning in Yakutsk.
On the morning of July 27, the helicopter cut the lighting mast with the blades of the main rotor, and the debris damaged the tail section. As a result, the Mi-26 lost its tail and now needs to be repaired. The reasons for the incident were not disclosed. The helicopter belongs to the Russian Federal Security Service.
The Mi-26 (Halo in NATO codification) entered service in 1980. It is used in nearly 20 countries, including China, Mexico, North Korea, Kazakhstan, Algeria, India, and Venezuela.
The helicopter is 40 meters long. The diameter of the propeller with eight blades is 32 meters. An empty Mi-26 weighs more than 28,000 kg, and the maximum takeoff weight is 56,000 kg. The helicopter is equipped with two engines and can reach speeds of up to 295 km/h. The volume of the fuel tanks is 12,000 liters.
