What happened
On March 8, 2023, a Bell 206 helicopter, registration HI-951, was conducting an international flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) from Aeropuerto Internacional Dr. Joaquín Balaguer (MDJB) to Aeropuerto Internacional de Puerto Príncipe (MTPP).
While approximately 21 nautical miles from the departure airport, the aircraft struck an electrical power line. The impact caused the cable to become entangled in the main rotor, specifically around the mast and the swashplate assembly. Following the entanglement, the aircraft plummeted into a hill in the Los Cacaos area, located in the San Cristóbal province. The impact with the terrain resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and one fatality involving the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter.
The investigation
The Commission Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviación (CIAA) initiated an investigation immediately following notification of the accident. An investigation group was established to evaluate several critical factors, including operational aspects, human performance, airworthiness, meteorological conditions, and the topography of the crash site.