Bell 212 Helicopter Accident in Quito, Ecuador

Flight Details and Accident Sequence On November 25, 2011, a Bell 212 helicopter operated by Aeromaster Airways was conducting a test flight at a maintenance facility in the El Condado sector of Quito, Ecuador. The flight was part of the procedure to return the aircraft to service following a 3,000-hour maintenance check. The objective was to perform vibration measurements and adjustments before the helicopter was sent to its regular operating area in El Coca. A visual flight plan was submitted via fax for a local two-hour flight. The aircraft carried two pilots and two maintenance mechanics. The operation began at approximately 16:40 UTC. After a series of low-altitude hover tests over the platform, the pilot initiated a takeoff at 16:47 UTC. The helicopter was oriented toward the northeast and began a vertical climb to 45 feet. During the translation maneuver, the rotor experienced a loss of revolutions. The pilot attempted to return to the platform but could not complete the landing. The right ski struck the edge of an adjacent ravine, causing the aircraft to slide down the slope and fall 35 meters to the bottom.