- Date
- February 19, 2009, 21:52 local (21:52 UTC)
- Place
- Tocumen, Panama
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- HP-AM3Robinson R44
- Defining event
- Enroute: Explosion (non-impact)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Lead agency
- Other
- Parties
- Direccion de Aeronautica Civil
- Case key
- 73503
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Panama. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Direccion de Aeronautica Civil Apartados 7501 y 7615 Panama 5 http://www.aeronautica.gob.pa This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Panamanian Government.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
A Panamanian-registered Robinson R44, was destroyed when it exploded in flight and impacted the parking lot at Tocumen International Airport (PTY), Tocumen, Panama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Panama. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Direccion de Aeronautica Civil Apartados 7501 y 7615 Panama 5 http://www.aeronautica.gob.pa This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Panamanian Government.
Factual narrative
On February 19, 2009, at 2152 coordinated universal time, a Robinson R44, Panamanian registeration D-EPDK, was destroyed when it exploded in flight and impacted the parking lot at Tocumen International Airport (PTY), Tocumen, Panama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Panama. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Direccion de Aeronautica Civil Apartados 7501 y 7615 Panama 5 http://www.aeronautica.gob.pa This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Panamanian Government.
Aircraft
- Registration
- HP-AM3
- Reported as
- Robinson R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 11442
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- Both
- Flight
- Business · Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator
- Motta International
- Registered owner
- Motta International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Miraflores
- Destination
- Albrook
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- PTY · Tocumen International
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Injuries
- Fatal
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Seat
- Right
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day