What happened
On March 8, 2018, at approximately 18:55 UTC, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration PR-HBB, crashed in the southern sector of Joinville, Santa Catarina. The aircraft, operated by Avalon Táxi-Aéreo Ltda., had departed from Heliponto BCW in Penha for a local flight carrying a pilot and three passengers.
According to investigations and a federal indictment, the flight was subject to unlawful interference. A criminal plot, orchestrated by an inmate, intended to use the helicopter to facilitate a prison escape from the Joinville Industrial Penitentiary. The plan involved the aircraft hovering near the facility while accomplices used a rope and harness to hoist the inmate into the cabin. Following the extraction, the pilot was allegedly instructed to land near a service station.
Evidence suggests that during the flight, a physical altercation occurred between the passengers and the pilot. Video evidence indicated the aircraft underwent rapid altitude fluctuations—climbing and descending three times—before the fourth descent resulted in the crash. The impact left the aircraft destroyed, resulting in three fatalities (the pilot and two passengers) and one serious injury (the remaining passenger).
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the technical and operational aspects of the flight. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial helicopter license and was properly rated for single-engine turbine helicopters. Furthermore, the pilot's medical certificate was valid, and toxicological tests returned negative for any substances that could impair flight capabilities.
The aircraft was found to be in a compliant state, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness, proper weight and balance, and up-to-date maintenance logs. Fuel analysis showed no signs of contamination. However, investigators recovered two firearms—a .38 caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol—from the wreckage, supporting the theory of criminal interference.
Due to the evidence of criminal activity and the nature of the interference, CENIPA officially interrupted the investigation, as per Brazilian aeronautical regulations, which mandate the cessation of proceedings when evidence of a crime is present.