What happened
On July 22, 2022, a Robinson R44 Astro helicopter, registration LV-WMB, departed from a private property near General Rodríguez, Buenos Aires, for a transport flight to Cañuelas. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot detected abnormal vibrations within the aircraft. In response to these vibrations, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a nearby field. Although the landing itself was successful and the pilot escaped without injury, a fire broke out after the pilot had disembarked. The fire resulted in the total destruction of the helicopter's fuselage and cabin.
The investigation
The investigation into the accident was significantly hindered by a lack of essential technical documentation. Investigators found that the last recorded annual inspection for the aircraft dated back to 2011, and no subsequent records were found to confirm the aircraft's airworthiness at the time of the event. Furthermore, the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) had no records of the pilot's flight hour logs, making it impossible to verify the pilot's recent flight experience.
While the pilot's medical certification was valid, the investigation could not determine the specific cause of the vibrations felt during takeoff due to the decade-long gap in maintenance records. Similarly, the exact origin of the fire—which likely involved a leak of flammable fluid—could not be definitively established.
Findings
- The specific cause of the vibrations experienced during takeoff remains undetermined.
- The exact cause of the post-landing fire could not be confirmed.
- The aircraft's last documented annual inspection occurred in 2011, leaving its maintenance status unverified.
- The aircraft was being operated routinely from an unauthorized landing site, contrary to Argentine civil aviation regulations (RAAC Part 91), which permit such operations only if they are not frequent or routine.