What happened
On March 22, 2016, a Bell 206-B3 helicopter, registration HK 4764, operated by Helifly S.A.S., was performing a non-scheduled transport flight from Medellín to Montería. The aircraft departed Medellín's Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport at 11:25 UTC carrying one pilot, one technician, and two passengers.
During the flight, the aircraft's tracking system recorded its last position near Llanos del Cuibá, approximately 10 miles north of Santa Rosa de Osos, at an altitude of 11,391 feet. When the aircraft failed to report its scheduled position at Tarazá, the operator activated its emergency response plan. A search aircraft subsequently located the wreckage in a forested area at 8,750 feet, where a column of smoke was visible. The impact resulted in three fatalities and one survivor with serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a post-crash fire.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation, which included international cooperation from the Canadian TSB and the US NTSB, examined GPS data, meteorological records, and wreckage distribution. Analysis of the wreckage showed the impact occurred at a high angle of descent and high vertical velocity, with a lateral tilt to the right.
Meteorological analysis via satellite imagery revealed that the area was experiencing significant weather hazards. Low-level stratiform clouds and fog banks were present, and a developing convective system was moving through the area. This system brought heavy rain, vertical cloud development, and severe turbulence. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience and maintenance records, finding the aircraft's systems were operating correctly until the moment of impact.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to continue a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight despite deteriorating weather conditions.
- The aircraft entered a state of inadvertent instrument conditions (IMC) while attempting to evade clouds.
- The pilot experienced spatial disorientation due to a lack of visual references.
- The pilot's limited operational experience contributed to the inability to recover the aircraft once it reached a critical state.
- The impact was characterized by a sudden loss of control and an abrupt descent into the terrain.