The facts of the use of fake rubber in the production of Mi-8MTV-1 and Ansat civilian helicopters have been revealed at the Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ), part of the Russian Helicopters company. Such rubber could fall apart during operation and, along the chain, lead to the shutdown of engines in a flying car. The revealed facts of forgeries were confirmed by Rostec State Corporation.
A month earlier, the Federal Air Transport Agency issued two airworthiness directives, in which it ordered the suspension of operation of 37 helicopters produced at the KVZ last year. Fake rubber was found in these cars. These are 27 Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters and ten Ansat-SK vehicles modified for air ambulance. Most of them were used by the National Air Ambulance Service, others by the Aviation Security Service and airlines (mainly in the North and the Far East).
At the same time, it is noted that 80 percent of helicopters have already replaced fake tires with new ones, and the engines have been checked on the ground. These machines have already returned to flying.
Fakes were used in gaskets that could clog the engine
Counterfeit material in these helicopters was used for gaskets that seal joints and should not allow fuel leaks. The fake could quickly fall apart, clog up the helicopter's fuel system, which could lead to fuel starvation of the engines and, as a result, their shutdown in flight, an unnamed aircraft engineer explained to the publication.
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| Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ). |
| Source: Maxim Bogodvid / RIA Novosti |
After replacing the gaskets, the fuel systems were flushed and control flights were carried out, the Federal Air Transport Agency assured.
Fake quality documents were issued for rubber
The supplier of the forgery has not been disclosed. It is noted that the counterfeit came to the KVZ in August 2022 according to the results of the purchase under the state contract.
2,3
one million rubles
The Kazan Helicopter Plant paid for the supply of 4,000 tons of fake rubber plates
The source suggested that the rubber was made a long time ago, its shelf life expired (about five years), but instead of recycling, another quality certificate was issued for it and issued as a new one. At the same time, the properties of the material have really deteriorated over the years — the rubber becomes less elastic and brittle.
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| Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ). |
| Source: Maxim Bogodvid / RIA Novosti |
Rostec confirmed that it had indeed revealed the fact of forgery of documents after an internal audit. The rubber itself was removed as a defect, and the fake was also replaced on ready-made helicopters.
A criminal case on fraud has been opened
Rostec handed over the inspection materials and the company's statement to law enforcement agencies. As a result of their consideration, a criminal case was opened on fraud committed by a group of persons by prior agreement (part 2 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), a source familiar with the investigation said. It is at the trial stage.
Rostec also assured that the plant would not allow such situations in the future. At the same time, it is noted that the facts of the use of fake rubber have already been revealed at the KVZ. Just last August, the Federal Air Transport Agency issued another airworthiness directive, which talked about clogging the fuel filters of engines on one Ansat-SK helicopter due to collapsed material. This happened during the acceptance tests. In this regard, the operation of two helicopters was suspended.