Russian Army Maj Gen Boris Vorbiev was killed on 17 June, when the Kamov Ka-50 Hokum he was piloting crashed at the Torzhok combat training centre.
Vorbiev, commander of the Torzhok centre, was an experienced helicopter pilot.
According to witnesses, the accident occurred as the Ka-50 was being flown at low altitude over the test centre. The helicopter collided with the ground and immediately exploded.
The flight data recorder has been recovered from the crash site, and is being reviewed by the investigating commission to try to establish the cause of the accident.
A handful of Ka-50 attack helicopters have been delivered to Torzhok for combat evaluation.
The Hokum is in competition with the Mil Mi-28 Havoc to provide a successor to the Russian Army Aviation's Mi-24 Hind combat assault helicopter.
Despite years of evaluation, the Russian defence ministry has been unable to provide adequate funding for the army to begin procuring either helicopter in the numbers required to replace the Mil Hind. Kamov is also developing a night attack variant of the Ka-50.
Source: Flight International
