Robinson R-22 Beta LV-ZRH Accident in Rauch, Buenos Aires

Overview and Flight Details On 17 November 2021, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, registration LV-ZRH, departed Tolosa aerodrome in La Plata, Buenos Aires, at 16:20 UTC for Tandil. The flight was a general aviation pleasure flight. After approximately 130 minutes in visual meteorological conditions, the aircraft collided with an electrical power line while flying at low altitude and impacted the ground in the rural area of Rauch, Buenos Aires. ## Investigation Findings The aircraft was operated by its owner, who held a private helicopter pilot license. The investigation found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failures, although the post-impact fire made inspection difficult. The distance between the power line collision point and the final rest position was approximately 70 meters. Following the impact, the helicopter caught fire and was destroyed. A person working in an adjacent field assisted the pilot, removing him from the aircraft before it fully ignited. Despite this, the pilot died at the scene. ## Regulatory and Maintenance Status According to documentation from the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), the pilot's aeronautical medical certificate had been expired since 31 March 2020. The pilot's license was issued in September 2019, with a documented total of 10 flight hours as of October 2019. The aircraft did not meet airworthiness requirements due to the absence of updated maintenance records in accordance with the manufacturer's plan and regulatory requirements. The last recorded annual inspection was in 2008, when the helicopter had 1,563 flight hours. This inspection authorized the aircraft until March 2009. No documentary evidence of subsequent maintenance or repair work was found. The head of the departure aerodrome stated that the pilot intended to present updated documentation for both the aircraft and his medical certificate, but this did not occur before the accident.