What happened
On July 21, 2022, at 16:10 UTC, an Airbus BK-117 C2 helicopter, registered as LV-CAN, was performing a test flight in the vicinity of the Helicópteros Marinos operational base in the Province of Buenos Aires. The aircraft was operating under general aviation flight conditions, conducting a flight path between Helicenter and Don Torcuato.
During the landing phase of the operation, the aircraft lost stability and fell into a nearby lagoon. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the helicopter. While the aircraft was severely damaged, the two crew members on board sustained minor injuries and did not suffer fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control during the approach to the landing site. Authorities examined the flight parameters during the final moments of the flight and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was in a landing phase when the descent into the water occurred.