What happened
On May 22, 2009, a Robinson R4SS II, registration PR-NDF, departed from Montes Claros, MG, bound for Vitória da Conquista, BA. The flight, operated by Rotiv Ltda., was planned under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for a night arrival.
At approximately 21:14 UTC, the pilot contacted Vitória da Conquista Radio, stating the aircraft was 19 minutes from the destination. During subsequent communications, the pilot requested altimeter adjustments and inquired about the runway altitude. In the final contact at 21:34 UTC, the pilot requested increased brightness for the runway lighting. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft disappeared from radio contact.
The wreckage was later discovered approximately 10km southwest of the airport, located on the high point of a hill. The aircraft struck the ground in a nose-down attitude at high speed, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. The pilot and one passenger sustained two fatal injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that while the pilot held a valid commercial helicopter license, they were not qualified for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations. The aircraft was also not certified for IFR flight.
Investigators found that although the initial METAR indicated acceptable conditions, a subsequent SPECI report issued shortly after takeoff indicated a significant degradation in weather, with a ceiling of only 500ft and light rain. Witnesses in the area reported seeing the aircraft flying at low altitudes through scattered clouds and mist prior to the impact. The investigation also examined the pilot's decision-making process and the influence of organizational pressure, noting that the pilot's employer had a strong interest in reaching the destination that day.