What happened
On September 21, 2022, at approximately 17:51 UTC, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration PR-ALX, was performing a passenger transport flight from Governador Valadares (SBGV) to an unregistered landing site in Engenheiro Caldas, Minas Gerais. The flight was being operated by Rotorfly Táxi Aéreo e Serviços Aéreos Especializados Ltda.
During the final approach to a soccer field in an urban area, the aircraft entered the downwind leg and subsequently the base leg. During this maneuver, the pilot failed to detect high-voltage power lines. The helicopter struck the electrical cables, leading to a loss of control and a subsequent impact with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Of the four people on board, the pilot and two passengers sustained light injuries, while one passenger remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified, holding a valid commercial helicopter license and medical certificate. The aircraft was airworthy, with all maintenance records up to date and operating within weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions were favorable for VFR flight.
Investigators found that prior to the flight, the operator had sent the intended route and a specific risk management briefing to the pilot via a messaging application. This briefing explicitly highlighted the presence of high-voltage cables near the intended landing site. However, the flight plan presented indicated a different destination (Açucena, MG), and the pilot did not appear to have fully integrated the specific risk warnings into the flight execution. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the operator's supervision was ineffective, as the risk information was merely passed through a messaging app without ensuring the pilot had fully understood the critical hazards.
Findings
- Inadequate flight planning, as the destination was changed without proper consideration of the previously identified risks.
- Ineffective managerial supervision, which failed to ensure the pilot was fully aware of the operational hazards.
- The pilot's failure to perceive the power lines, potentially due to selective perception or "tunnel vision" while searching for the landing spot.