An 88-year-old Russian aviation enthusiast has died following an ill-fated attempt to fly a homemade helicopter, according to reports.
Vladimir Trapeznikov was preparing for takeoff on Thursday, July 30, when the aircraft’s rotor blades detached, inflicting fatal head trauma, CNN reported, citing the Volga Region Transport Prosecutor’s Office (VRTPO).
“During engine startup, while still on the ground and as the engine power was building, the main rotor blades detached. This caused injuries to the pilot,” the VRTPO said in a statement to the outlet.
Trapeznikov was rushed to Omutninsky District Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, per CNN. The helicopter, which was unregistered, marked the fifth aircraft the retired log truck driver had built.
The fatal accident occurred in the village of Zalazna, located in the Kirov region—Trapeznikov’s home, according to local outlets Izvestia and the Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Footage of the event, shared on social media, reportedly shows Trapeznikov seated in the cockpit as the rotor blades begin spinning. Just before liftoff, one of the blades flies off, striking him in the head and causing the aircraft to collapse, according to the Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Trapeznikov’s daughter and son-in-law were reportedly present at the time of the incident, a source told Izvestia.
Trapeznikov rose to national prominence in 1985 when he successfully piloted a homemade airplane. His achievement earned him a feature in a short film shown at a Panorama cinema, as well as coverage in a TV newsreel, CNN reported. According to the Rossiyskaya Gazeta, he named his first aircraft Rosinante—a tribute to Don Quixote’s steed in Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel.
Driven by a lifelong dream of flying, Trapeznikov became a self-taught inventor. Over the course of his life, he designed and built five aircraft, including the final one involved in Thursday’s accident, CNN noted.
Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
