Robinson R-44 Astro Accident in General Rodríguez, Argentina (LV-WMB)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On July 22, 2022, at 17:00 local time (20:00 UTC), a Robinson R-44 Astro helicopter with registration LV-WMB departed from the pilot's property near General Rodríguez, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The aircraft was on a general aviation transfer flight to a private field in Cañuelas. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported abnormal vibrations and elected to make an emergency landing in a nearby field. Following the landing, a fire broke out, resulting in the total destruction of the helicopter. The pilot, a 53-year-old Argentine male holding a Private Pilot License for helicopters, was uninjured. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Records The aircraft, a 1995 Robinson R-44 Astro (serial number 0146), had a total time of 1,432.2 hours. The last recorded annual inspection was in February 2011, and the last weight and balance was performed on February 9, 2011. The Argentine Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) reported no records of the pilot's flight logbook. The Argentine Air Navigation Company (EANA) also had no records of the aircraft's activity at controlled aerodromes between January 1, 2019, and the date of the accident. The investigation did not find subsequent records indicating the aircraft was maintained in an airworthy condition at the time of the accident. ## Operational and Environmental Factors The takeoff site was the pilot's property and was not authorized as a Declared Landing Area for Helicopter Operations (LADH). The emergency landing occurred approximately 360 meters from the takeoff point. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident included a wind from 090° at 8 knots, visibility of 10 kilometers, a temperature of 18.2 °C, and a pressure of 1,015.7 hPa. The investigation was conducted by the Transport Safety Board (JST) under its systemic model, focusing on operational safety factors without assigning fault or liability.