What happened
On October 29, 2013, an MD Helicopters 600N, registration PR-YCJ, departed from Fazenda Vera Paz (SIJZ) heading toward Aeródromo Mundico Coelho (SNMD) in Itaituba, Pará. The flight was being operated as a charter service (táxi-aéreo) by Arizona Táxi-Aereo Ltda.
Approximately fifteen minutes after takeoff, the pilot noticed smoke accumulating inside the cabin. In response to the developing fire, the pilot performed an emergency landing in a nearby clearing. Following the touchdown, the pilot attempted to suppress the flames using an onboard fire extinguisher; however, the fire spread too rapidly and consumed the entire aircraft. The pilot escaped the wreckage without injury, and no third-party damage was reported.
The investigation
The investigation faced significant challenges due to the remote location of the wreckage. The accident site was situated in a clearing that was difficult to access. Initial attempts to reach the debris via helicopter were unsuccessful due to adverse meteorological conditions.
Ultimately, investigators reached the site using land and river transport. They determined the wreckage was located on property owned by the pilot, near a shed also belonging to the pilot. A critical complication arose during the examination: the aircraft's identification plates were missing from the wreckage. The operator was unable to provide the plates for verification. Consequently, investigators could not definitively confirm whether the recovered debris belonged to PR-YCJ.
Findings
- The pilot held valid technical and medical certifications.
- The aircraft held a valid airworthiness certificate.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
- The primary cause of the inability to verify the wreckage was the absence of aircraft identification plates.