What happened
On March 30, 2018, a Robinson R66 helicopter, registration PR-JBL, was performing a taxi flight from Heliponto da Lagoa to Angra dos Reis. Simultaneously, a Tecnam P-92-S Echo ultralight, registration PU-FTF, departed from Aeródromo Ten Brig Ar Waldir de Vasconcelos for a local flight.
While operating near the Heliponto Helicentro do Pontal in Rio de Janeiro, the two aircraft collided. The impact occurred tangentially between the helicopter's tail rotor and the left wingtip of the ultralight. Despite the collision, both pilots maintained control of their aircraft. The pilot of PR-JBL declared an emergency and landed at Jacarepaguá Airport, while the pilot of PU-FTF returned to his departure airfield. Both aircraft sustained light damage, and all occupants escaped uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight paths and the regulatory environment governing the airspace. The investigation found that the helicopter was following visual corridors but had drifted slightly to the right of its assigned path. The ultralight pilot, while performing a right-hand turn, crossed the helicopter's flight path.
Investigators examined the Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 16/15, which regulated visual traffic in the Rio de Janeiro terminal area. A significant finding was the ambiguity regarding radio frequencies; while the AIC mandated a specific frequency for helicopter coordination, it created confusion for fixed-wing aircraft operating in the same area. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the ultralight pilot did not report his position, and the helicopter pilot's position report was not acknowledged by the other aircraft.
Findings
- The helicopter PR-JBL was flying slightly outside the established visual corridor limits.
- The ultralight PU-FTF executed a right-hand turn that intersected the helicopter's trajectory.
- Ambiguous ATS publications regarding the correct coordination frequency for fixed-wing aircraft in the area reduced the pilot's situational awareness.
- There was a lack of effective communication, as the ultralight pilot did not report his position and did not acknowledge the helicopter's broadcast.
- The regulatory framework for frequency selection in the TMA-RJ 3 region was unclear for non-helicopter operations.