What happened
On September 21, 2007, a Robinson R22 helicopter, registration PT-YBY, was performing an aerial surveillance mission in the Pirituba neighborhood of São Paulo. The flight, operated by RQ Serviços Aéreos Especializados Ltda., was intended to assist a ground team in locating a stolen vehicle.
During the operation, the pilot encountered significant turbulence and strong winds, with gusts exceeding 15 knots. While maintaining an altitude of approximately 500 feet AGL, the pilot experienced difficulty maintaining a steady hover. Due to the deteriorating flight conditions, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing in an unprepared, uncertified field.
During the final approach, the pilot executed a landing with a tailwind and a slight left crosswind component. As the aircraft descended to approximately 5 meters above the ground, it encountered a sudden gust of wind, leading to a loss of control and a loss of lift. Despite full application of the collective, the aircraft could not maintain sufficient altitude, resulting in a violent impact with the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to roll onto its right side.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control and the operational context of the flight. Investigators examined the meteorological conditions, which were characterized by strong winds and orographic turbulence. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, finding the R22 to be in an airworthy condition with a valid certificate of airworthiness.
Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the operational legality of the mission. It was established that the flight plan had been modified after takeoff to accommodate the vehicle tracking mission, which was not part of the original flight notification. The investigation also looked into the organizational aspects of the operator, noting that the specific service being performed was not authorized under the company's operational specifications.