Accident Overview
On December 9, 2011, at 1630 UTC, a Robinson R44 helicopter, Brazilian registration PR-KLA, operated by SASH Locacao de Veiculos LTDA as a personal flight, impacted terrain near Fazenda Coqueiros, Sao Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The commercial-rated pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight Details
The flight departed Malwee Jaragua do Sul Airport (SSJS) in Santa Catarina, Brazil, en route to a heliport (SNDY) in the vicinity of Fazenda Coqueiros.
Witness Accounts
According to Brazilian authorities, witnesses reported hearing the helicopter flying over the region in cloudy weather with light rain. Suddenly, there was the noise of an explosion. When they arrived at the accident site, the helicopter was found destroyed.
Investigation
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Brazil. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from the Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center (CENIPA) in Brasilia, Brazil.
Conclusions
This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Brazil. No probable cause has been stated in the available source.