What happened
On November 7, 2017, at approximately 21:35 UTC, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration PR-JNY, was engaged in a private passenger transport flight near Boa Vista da Aparecida, Paraná. The flight originated from a local soccer field, where the pilot had previously landed at the request of the aircraft owner to perform a local sightseeing flight.
Following a brief stop on the ground to allow the owner to interact with a person nearby, the aircraft departed from an uncertified, open terrain area. During the initial climb, the pilot focused on avoiding low-altitude electric fences (approximately 0.8m high) that divided the nearby sub-divisions. In doing so, the pilot failed to notice an electrical power line positioned approximately 7m above the ground directly in the flight path. The aircraft struck the wire and subsequently impacted the ground. Despite the substantial damage to the aircraft, the pilot and two passengers escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and medically certified, and the aircraft was airworthy with updated maintenance records. The meteorological conditions were favorable for visual flight, with sunset occurring shortly after the accident.
Investigators reviewed video footage captured by a bystander, which allowed for a frame-by-frame analysis of the aircraft's trajectory from takeoff to impact. The investigation focused on the legality of the landing site and the pilot's adherence to safety regulations. The analysis highlighted that the operation violated ICA 100-4 and RBHA 91 regulations, which require takeoff and landing trajectories to be free of obstacles and mandate that uncertified sites must provide a safety area clear of obstructions.
Findings
- Improper decision-making: The pilot's decision to land in an area with known obstacles (electric fences) and subsequently take off from that same area demonstrated poor piloting judgment.
- Complacency: The pilot's attitude and the informal relationship between the pilot and the aircraft owner contributed to a lack of adherence to established safety procedures.
- Interpersonal dynamics: The relationship between the pilot and the owner, characterized by excessive informality, influenced the pilot to comply with requests that bypassed standard safety protocols.
- Failure to manage risk: The pilot's focus on avoiding low-level fences led to a failure to identify and mitigate the risk posed by the higher-altitude power lines.