Incident Overview
On November 22, 2025, a Bell Helicopter Textron 206B, registration YV3004, departed from the Uruyen Camp with a destination of Canaima. During the initial climb, the aircraft experienced a significant decrease in main rotor RPM. The pilot initiated an emergency landing procedure. Upon impact with the terrain, the tail boom separated from the fuselage, and the helicopter lost control, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. Two individuals were on board: the pilot and a mechanic. Both occupants remained uninjured.
Aircraft and Maintenance Status
The aircraft was powered by a Rolls-Royce 250B-C20B engine and held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness issued by INAC, expiring in July 2027. At the time of the incident, the airframe had approximately 7,052.2 total flight hours. The last scheduled maintenance inspections (100-hour, 300-hour, and 24-month) were completed on September 24, 2025, by OMAC N° 568 Coqui Flight Services Center in Maracay. Records indicated the aircraft was airworthy prior to the flight.
Investigation Findings
Investigative analysis revealed that the tail boom fractured due to shear stress at its root during impact, with no evidence of contact from main rotor blades. The landing gear skids failed catastrophically under excessive load, and the cross-tube penetrated the fuselage floor, indicating the structure absorbed the full kinetic energy of the impact. Main rotor blades remained structurally intact with only superficial scarring, consistent with low RPM conditions at ground contact.
Probable Cause Analysis
The investigation identified a failure in the power regulation system, specifically a drop in RPM during takeoff. Physical evidence and operational data point to an internal failure within the N2 Turbine Governor mechanism. The pneumatic lines connecting the Governor to the Fuel Control Unit (FCU) were found to be in good condition, with no leaks or cracks. No fuel contaminants were detected in filters. The investigation is ongoing, with bench tests of the N2 Governor pending to confirm the causal factor.