What happened
On July 19, 2022, at approximately 17:00 UTC, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration PR-EGD, crashed at a farm in Loanda, Paraná. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude in a nose-down attitude, appearing to lose height as it moved across the property. Following the impact, a post-crash fire fueled by the aircraft's fuel supply consumed the wreckage. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was completely destroyed.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation was unable to definitively determine the cause of the accident due to several critical information gaps. Investigators could not access the airframe or engine logbooks, nor could they verify the aircraft's weight and balance or the specific nature and planning of the flight. The intense fire following the impact caused significant charring, preventing the technical examination of various components, instruments, and fuel.
Notably, the investigation revealed that the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness had been expired since August 24, 2020. Furthermore, a purchase agreement for the aircraft, finalized in June 2022, explicitly noted several discrepancies, including the expired airworthiness certificate, expired components lacking traceability, and the absence of main rotor blades. The current owner did not provide documentation regarding the aircraft's technical condition to the commission.
Findings
- The pilot held a valid medical certificate and a commercial helicopter license with a single-engine turbine rating.
- The aircraft was operating with an expired Certificate of Airworthiness.
- The investigation could not verify the aircraft's weight and balance or its maintenance history due to unavailable logbooks.
- The extreme damage from the post-impact fire prevented the inspection of critical mechanical components and instruments.