What happened
On November 26, 2023, at approximately 21:30 UTC, a Robinson R66 helicopter, registered as LV-FQJ, was conducting a low-altitude recreational flight over the Paraná River. The aircraft was operating on a short-duration mission near Ramallo, Buenos Aires, with a flight time of approximately 40 minutes. During the flight, the helicopter struck the surface of the water at kilometer 323 of the river. The impact caused the aircraft to capsize.
Following the impact, the four passengers on board managed to exit the aircraft on their own. Tragically, the pilot did not survive the accident.
The investigation
JST investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the impact with the water near the Ramallo region. The investigation focused on the flight phase, which was categorized as general aviation for pleasure, and the low-altitude nature of the operation over the river. The investigation established the sequence of events leading to the water impact and the subsequent capsizing of the airframe.