What happened
On August 25, 2019, at approximately 00:30 UTC, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration PR-APN, crashed into a lake in Buriti Alegre, Goiás, Brazil. The aircraft had departed from an unregistered and unapproved site located within a residential complex on the shores of Lago das Brisas for a local night flight. The flight carried the pilot and three passengers. Approximately five minutes after takeoff, the helicopter struck the water and submerged. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and caused two fatalities among the occupants, while the remaining two passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the pilot's qualifications, the aircraft's airworthiness, and the circumstances leading to the impact. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial helicopter license and medical certificate, and was qualified for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate and maintenance records were also found to be up to date.
However, the investigation revealed that the pilot did not hold an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating, nor was the helicopter certified for IFR operations. Under the regulations in effect at the time, night VFR flight without IFR capabilities was only permitted within specific controlled airspaces or within a 50 km radius of a registered aerodrome, neither of which applied to this departure from a residential area. Furthermore, forensic testing conducted on the pilot confirmed the presence of alcohol in his system, with a concentration of 12.3 dg/L, following reports that he had consumed alcoholic beverages during a boat excursion earlier that day.