What happened
On March 9, 2020, at approximately 19:50 UTC, an AS-350 B2 helicopter, registration PR-SPI, operated by the Military Police of the State of São Paulo, was conducting a mission to transport vital organs. The flight originated from Campo de Marte Aerodrome and was bound for the General Hospital of Pirajussara in Taboão da Serra, São Paulo.
As the aircraft was performing a vertical descent within a restricted landing area, the main rotor blades struck a lamppost. The crew, consisting of four members, successfully completed the landing and shut down the engine. While the crew escaped without injury, the collision caused substantial damage to the aircraft's mast, blades, and main-rotor head. The impact also damaged a nearby parked car. On the ground, a pedestrian sustained minor injuries, and a motorcyclist was seriously injured during the occurrence.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the selection of the landing site and the crew's approach. Investigators found that while a private helipad was available near the hospital, the crew was not informed of its availability and instead chose to land in the hospital's parking lot.
The investigation examined organizational factors, including the lack of a formal mapping system for potential landing sites and the absence of specific obstacle clearance distances in the unit's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for restricted-area missions. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the administrative burden placed on the pilot in command, who was responsible for both mission execution and the scheduling of the second-in-command, which limited the time available for mission planning.