What happened
On the evening of January 23, 2021, at approximately 18:54 local time, a mid-air collision occurred near the Punta de Tralca sector in the El Quisco commune, Valparaíso Region. A remote-piloted aircraft (RPA) was performing flight maneuvers along the coastal area when it struck a military helicopter. At the time of the impact, the helicopter was traveling from south to north at an altitude of 500 feet AGL.
The collision was significant enough that the drone impacted the left side of the helicopter's windshield and the alarm panel, causing debris to enter the cockpit. The helicopter was carrying four occupants at the time of the incident. As a result of the impact, one crew member sustained minor injuries, and both the military helicopter and the RPA sustained damage.
The investigation
DGAC Chile conducted an investigation into the event to determine the circumstances surrounding the mid-air impact. The inquiry focused on the flight paths of both the unmanned drone and the manned military aircraft, as well as the altitude and positioning of the aircraft during the maneuvers in the coastal zone. The investigation confirmed that the collision occurred while the helicopter was operating at a low altitude.