Bell 212 Helicopter Accident at Ishpingo 3 Helipad

Accident Overview and Flight Details On February 5, 2002, at 20:10 UTC, a Bell 212 helicopter was conducting a passenger transport operation on the Ishpingo-Tiputini route. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and eleven passengers, making a total of 13 people on board. This was the fifth flight of the day for the helicopter, with previous flights having been completed without incident. During the takeoff phase from the Ishpingo 3 helipad, located in Napo province at coordinates 01°05’40’’S 075°38’28’’W, the aircraft lost power after ascending approximately 8 meters. The helicopter then executed a sharp left turn of 97 degrees before impacting the outer edge of the helipad, which was situated on a 1-meter high dirt base. The impact caused the helicopter to tilt onto its left side, resulting in the main rotor blades striking the ground and one blade partially detaching. No fire was observed following the accident, and all occupants evacuated the aircraft under their own power. The seats and seatbelts withstood the impact forces, and four passengers sustained serious injuries while no fatalities were recorded. No third-party damage occurred.