What happened
On August 26, 2011, at approximately 17:10 UTC, a Sikorsky S-76C, registration PR-SEC, was performing a landing maneuver on the P-3/5 offshore platform near Campos, Rio de Janeiro. The aircraft, operated by Sênior Táxi Aéreo Executivo Ltda., was transporting two pilots and ten passengers from São Tomé Aerodrome.
During the final approach, the aircraft performed a short approach and made a hard contact with the helideck surface outside of the designated touchdown area. The impact occurred near the edge of the Final Approach and Take-Off Area (FATO), close to the helideck's protective screen. Following the initial impact, the aircraft briefly climbed before returning to the surface at the very limit of the touchdown zone. The landing gear and its attachment structure sustained damage, but all twelve occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation examined the flight path, meteorological conditions, and crew performance. The investigation confirmed that the wind was from 340° at 18 knots, with the vessel oriented at 011°, meaning the aircraft's final approach axis coincided with the wind direction.
Investigators analyzed the cockpit voice recorder, which revealed that the crew noticed an excessive sink rate during the short final. The investigation also looked into the physical characteristics of the helideck, noting its position at the stern of the vessel and its relationship to the platform's structures. Additionally, the investigation considered human factors, including the crew's recent emotional state following a previous fatal accident in their organization, and the instructor's limited visibility during the final segment of the approach.
Findings
- Improper application of controls: The pilot failed to apply adequate control inputs, leading to a flight path and sink rate that made reaching the center of the touchdown zone impossible.
- Pilot judgment: The pilot chose not to apply full available power, mistakenly believing that ground effect would sufficiently reduce the sink rate as they approached the landing area.
- Instructional failure: The instructor failed to intervene timely to correct the student pilot's deviations and prevent the aircraft from reaching an unrecoverable state.
- Restricted visibility: The instructor's view of the helideck was significantly limited during the final segment of the approach due to the aircraft's position and the task characteristics.
- Environmental factors: The helideck's location at the stern, below the platform's structures, may have subjected the aircraft to turbulent or descending airflows.
- Crew dynamics and emotional state: A high level of trust between the crew members and a shared state of emotional distress from a recent tragedy may have reduced situational awareness and inhibited the instructor's intervention.