What happened
On July 29, 2010, a Bell 206-B3 helicopter, registration N527TK, was conducting a ferry flight from Carrasco International Airport (SUMU) to San Fernando, Argentina. The flight was intended to transport a passenger, who was also the owner of the aircraft, accompanied by a pilot instructor acting as the pilot non-flying (PNF) member of the crew.
During the flight, the aircraft encountered significantly reduced visibility due to heavy fog. While flying near the coastline, the aircraft was observed performing evasive maneuvers to avoid high-voltage power lines. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter followed an erratic flight path and lost radar contact near the mouth of the Santa Lucía River. The aircraft ultimately impacted the waters of the Río de la Plata near Balneario Kiyú. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. One pilot managed to escape the wreckage and reach the shore with serious injuries, while the other occupant died in the accident.
The investigation
The CIAIA investigation examined the flight planning, meteorological conditions, air traffic control (ATC) communications, and the operational decisions made by the crew. The investigation reviewed the pilot's flight plan, which specified VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions, and analyzed the interactions between the crew and the Carrasco Tower and Approach controllers. The investigators also evaluated the regulatory discrepancies regarding VFR special flight requirements and the lack of a formal operational manual for the air traffic services in place at the time.