What happened
On April 25, 2024, at 14:20 UTC, a K216 helicopter was performing a stationary hover on the apron of the Círculo de Aviación Rosario in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. During this maneuver, the aircraft's nose suddenly dipped forward, causing the helicopter to move toward the ground. The aircraft subsequently impacted the terrain and overturned, coming to rest in an inverted position.
The flight was part of a general aviation operation departing from and returning to the Pueblo Esther Aerodrome (ROP). The aircraft was being operated privately.
The investigation
The preliminary investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control during the hover. Investigators examined the movement of the aircraft from its initial stable position to the point of impact with the ground. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft sustained significant damage during the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a sudden pitch-down motion while in a hover.
- The movement resulted in a ground impact and the subsequent overturning of the helicopter.
- The incident resulted in two serious injuries among the occupants (the pilot and one passenger), though no fatalities were reported.