What happened
On December 13, 2007, a Bell 204B helicopter, registration OB-1866-P, operated by Servicios Aéreos de Los Andes S.A.C., was performing a scheduled flight from Campamento Curaray in the Loreto region of Peru. During takeoff from landing pad No. 3, the aircraft experienced an immediate lateral drift toward a habitable area of the camp. The pilot noted a hydraulic warning light on the instrument panel, and the crew found flight controls becoming difficult to manage.
Deciding to depart the pad to find a safer landing site, the pilot transitioned to a 40-foot hover and then entered a descent toward a nearby river beach. While performing emergency procedures for the hydraulic failure, the crew observed a low rotor RPM warning and a simultaneous drop in both rotor and engine RPM. Believing the engine was failing, the pilot initiated an autorotation toward a beach near the Curaray River. During the attempt to flare and recover RPM, the tail boom struck the treetops, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and capsize upon impact with the ground. The accident resulted in two serious injuries among the crew.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation established that the aircraft was significantly overweight, with an estimated excess of 285 lbs above the maximum takeoff weight. Furthermore, the center of gravity was likely outside of limits, as evidenced by the aircraft's unstable behavior during the initial takeoff. The investigation also found that the crew had not performed a formal weight and balance calculation or a proper pre-flight inspection of the internal cargo.
Findings
- Inadequate execution of emergency procedures following the hydraulic failure.
- A failure of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic system.
- Lack of Crew Resource Management (CRM), specifically regarding the decision to continue the flight despite a hydraulic emergency.
- Failure to calculate weight and balance, leading to an overweight condition and an unstable center of gravity.
- Inadequate pre-flight inspection, which resulted in improper cargo loading.