What happened
On November 18, 2011, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration TG-RDD, was involved in an accident in the department of Escuintla, Guatemala. The aircraft was operating in a private/pleasure capacity, flying from its base at La Aurora International Airport. The impact occurred in the vicinity of Finca Santa Sofía Obero.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the Unidad de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes Aéreos (UIA) of the DGAC examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's experience, and the environmental conditions at the time of the occurrence. Meteorological data from the Puerto San José station was analyzed to determine the visibility and wind conditions in the area during the late afternoon hours of the accident.
Meteorological reports for the period between 16:00 and 18:00 hours indicated visibility ranging from 8 to 9 kilometers, with light winds or calm conditions and scattered clouds at 8,000 feet. Notably, reports from the time of the accident indicated the presence of smoke in the area.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact.
- At the time of the accident, there was presence of smoke in the vicinity of the impact area, as noted in the meteorological observations.
- The flight was being conducted as a private/pleasure flight.