Factual Information
On 26 February 2008, at 19:18 UTC, a Eurocopter AS332L2 helicopter, registration PP-MUM, operated by BHS Helicópteros S.A., departed from the P-18 offshore platform in the Campos Basin, off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The flight was conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) with a planned altitude of FL040, destined for Macaé (SBME). The helicopter carried 3 crew members and 17 passengers, for a total of 20 occupants.
During the initial climb, while in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), the helicopter made a left turn while gaining altitude. It subsequently lost speed and control, entering an anticlockwise spiral descent. The aircraft struck the sea approximately 300 meters from the platform. At impact, the helicopter's floats were inflated. The collision caused the tail section to separate and burst the front and right rear floats; the left rear float remained inflated, allowing the cabin to remain partially submerged for about one hour.
Injuries and Damage
According to the report, four passengers died, and the pilot's body was not recovered. One crew member and two passengers sustained serious injuries; one crew member and nine passengers suffered minor injuries; two passengers were uninjured. The helicopter sustained severe damage from the impact and exposure to seawater, and its recovery was deemed economically unviable.
Investigation
The investigation was conducted by the Brazilian Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA), with the participation of an accredited representative from France, the state of manufacture of the aircraft. The wreckage was recovered from the seabed to facilitate the investigation. The occurrence was classified as spatial disorientation.