OMUTNINSKY DISTRICT, Russia (BN24) — An 88-year-old Russian inventor and aviation enthusiast died Thursday after his homemade helicopter fell apart during an attempted take-off in the Kirov Region of western Russia, officials confirmed. The tragic accident occurred as the self-built aircraft’s main rotor blades detached while the engine was powering up on the ground.
According to the Volga Region Transport Prosecutor’s Office, the incident happened in the Omutninsky district when the rotor blades came off, causing serious injuries to the man identified as Vladimir Trapeznikov. Emergency responders rushed Trapeznikov, born in 1937, to Omutninsky District Hospital, where he died several hours later.
Local authorities revealed that the unregistered helicopter began to disintegrate during engine startup, preventing any actual flight. An investigation into the crash is ongoing to determine the precise causes and safety violations surrounding the homemade aircraft.
Trapeznikov, a self-taught inventor with a lifelong passion for aviation, had built five aircraft over several decades. Although he worked professionally as a logging truck driver, his inventive spirit earned him local fame. In 1985, he was featured in a short film and newsreel after successfully flying a homemade airplane, capturing the admiration of his community.
This fatal accident occurred as Trapeznikov attempted to launch his latest aircraft, a dream project that tragically ended in disaster.
Worldwide, amateur aviation enthusiasts have gained attention for their DIY flying machines. In the United Kingdom, a man built an aircraft in his garden during the COVID-19 pandemic, while in Ethiopia, an individual spent ten years constructing a homemade plane to fly to his wedding in 2015.
Credit: BBC
