A CREWMAN DIED AFTER A RUSSIAN M-14 HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE SEA OFF THE EASTERN ISLAND OF SAKHALIN THURSDAY DURING RESCUE DRILLS WITH JAPANESE COASTGUARDS, DPA REPORTED. THE M-14 PICKED UP PEOPLE FROM A DINGHY IN A SIMULATED RESCUE OPERATION BUT THEN FELL SEVERAL METRES TO THE SURFACE OWING TO AN APPARENT ENGINE MALFUNCTION. RUSSIAN TELEVISION FOOTAGE SHOWED THE HELICOPTER BOBBING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS UNTIL IT DIPPED FOWARD AND OVERTURNED AS ITS ROTOR BLADES HIT THE WATER, SMASHING OFF THE TAIL SECTION WITH THE JOLT. OTHER RESCUE UNITS PICKED UP THE 14 PEOPLE ON BOARD, FOUR OF WHOM WERE INJURED. THE 60-YEAR-OLD BOARD ENGINEER LATER DIED IN HOSPITAL. EMERGENCY SERVICES OF THE TWO COUNTRIES HAD BEEN REHEARSING OPERATIONS TO ASSIST A SHIP IN DISTRESS AND TO ELIMINATE AN OILSPILL. AN INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED INTO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
