What happened
On October 25, 2015, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration PP-BAO, took off from Fazenda Cachoeira Feliz in Guarani, Minas Gerais, for a local flight. The aircraft was operated by an individual who was not licensed to pilot the aircraft, accompanied by one passenger.
Immediately following takeoff, the helicopter began performing random movements in the horizontal plane before drifting backward without control. During this uncontrolled movement, the tail rotor struck a coconut tree. The impact caused the aircraft to yaw left, leading the main rotor blades to strike a second coconut tree. Following these impacts, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled right-hand rotation around its vertical axis. The aircraft continued this erratic flight path until it struck the surface of a lake and submerged.
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot died at the scene, remaining trapped inside the cockpit, while the passenger managed to egress the aircraft with minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the pilot did not possess a valid pilot license or any aeronautical qualification registered with ANAC. While the pilot's digital record in the SIAC system initially showed a valid medical certificate (CMA) through August 2016, investigators discovered that this record was modified two days after the accident. The valid certificate was replaced with an expired one from 2012. Furthermore, the medical center cited in the updated record had no record of the pilot's existence.
Physical evidence revealed that the pilot, who suffered from paralysis in the right leg and limited movement in the right arm, was using non-homologated mechanical aids to assist in controlling the aircraft. These improvised devices included a wooden board attached to the floor to provide foot support for the pedals and a strap tied to the left thigh to secure the right hand to the cyclic control.
No mechanical failures were identified in the aircraft, and no abnormal noises were reported by the passenger or witnesses. The investigation concluded that the pilot's inability to stabilize the aircraft during takeoff, likely due to the failure of these improvised aids, led to the loss of control.
Findings
- The pilot was operating the aircraft without a valid license or aeronautical qualification.
- The pilot utilized unauthorized and non-homologated artifacts (a wooden board and a leg strap) to compensate for physical motor impairments.
- The pilot had previously undergone approximately ten hours of flight instruction but failed to complete the training course.
- The loss of control was likely triggered by the failure of the improvised control aids during the takeoff phase.