What happened
On September 24, 2017, a Bell 206B3 helicopter, registration TG-WAB, was performing flight operations in the department of Escuintla, Guatemala. The aircraft was operating near the Finca del Ingenio Santa Ana, located in the municipality of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa. During the flight, the helicopter impacted the ground, causing substantial structural damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the Unidad de Investigación de Accidentes (UIA) of the DGAC examined the aircraft's maintenance history, meteorological conditions, and the flight sequence. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance logs, which indicated recent work on the hydraulic cylinder support assembly. Meteorological data from the nearby Puerto San Jose military base was also analyzed to determine the environmental conditions at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its structure upon impact.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the occurrence included visibility that was unlimited, with scattered cumulonimbus clouds observed in the southern semicircle.
- The aircraft was being operated by Helicópteros de Guatemala, S.A.
- The investigation identified the impact with the ground as the primary event leading to the structural failure of the airframe.