What happened
On June 12, 2009, an AS-350B2 helicopter, registration PR-MES, landed at the Ilha da Jipóia helipad in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. The flight, operated by Slerca Advogados Associados, had departed from the Rio de Janeiro City Hall helipad carrying one pilot and two passengers under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
During the landing procedure, the pilot observed no people or animals in the immediate vicinity of the landing area. After the aircraft touched down and the rotors began to decelerate, the pilot initiated engine shutdown procedures. While the pilot moved to the baggage compartment to retrieve rain gear for the passengers, a ground employee—a caretaker for the property—approached the aircraft. The individual walked into the path of the tail rotor, resulting in a fatal collision. The occupants of the helicopter were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined security camera footage, which showed the caretaker approaching the aircraft using an umbrella. The investigation established that the caretaker had recently started working at the property and had no prior safety orientation regarding helicopter operations at this specific location.
Investigators noted that the property featured stone paths connecting various buildings directly to the helipad area. The investigation also highlighted that the individual's previous work experience involved a different helipad setup where the tail rotor remained over water during ground operations, making approach from the rear impossible. This prior experience likely influenced the individual's behavior at the current site.