What happened
On February 1, 2006, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration PP-EJF, was conducting a training flight for a private helicopter pilot license (PPH) at Carlos Prates Aerodrome in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The flight involved an instructor and two other occupants, including one passenger.
During the flight, the crew performed an autorotation exercise. While the aircraft was in a hover over the runway following the maneuver, the pilot inadvertently reduced engine power using the throttle lever. This action caused the aircraft to yaw rapidly to the left and lose altitude, resulting in a collision with the ground. Despite the impact, all three occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation confirmed that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid and that the instructor held a valid technical certificate. The crew members also held valid medical certificates. The investigation focused on the sequence of events following the autorotation maneuver, establishing that the loss of control was triggered by the improper manipulation of the engine power lever.
Findings
- The pilot inadvertently reduced engine power via the throttle lever during a hover.
- Pilot judgment was the contributing factor in the loss of control.