Factual Information
The accident occurred on 23 September 2015. The aircraft, a Bell 206L-3 registered PP-ELA, was operated by the Government of Alagoas/Military Office. It departed from Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport (SBMO) at 13:50 UTC for a training flight at Alagoas Aeroclube (SNGS) and an overflight of the city of Maceió.
Flight History
During the training, the helicopter took off with a left turn. At approximately 10 meters above ground level, the aircraft entered a descending trajectory. It collided with a low-voltage power line and then struck the ground. The aircraft was destroyed.
Occupant Fatalities
All four occupants—the pilot and three others—died at the accident site. According to the injury table, three crew members and one passenger sustained fatal injuries.
Aircraft Damage
The helicopter was destroyed. Part of its structure was consumed by fire. No evidence of projectile impact from firearms was found on the analyzed parts.
Other Damage
A parked car was completely charred. The low-voltage power line was broken, and four roof tiles of a residence were damaged.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a Commercial Pilot License for helicopters and a valid Bell 206 (BH06) type rating. Total flight time was 680 hours, with 350 hours on the accident type. In the last 30 days, he had flown 5 hours, all on type. His aeronautical medical certificate was valid. The left front seat occupant was also a helicopter pilot but was not qualified on the accident model.
Investigative Report
The occurrence was classified as "loss of control in flight." The investigation was conducted by the Brazilian Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA), with accredited representatives from the NTSB (USA, state of manufacture of the airframe) and the TSB (Canada, state of manufacture of the engine).