# NTSB CEN09WA216: Robinson R44, Tocumen, Panama, February 19, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: February 19, 2009, 21:52 local (21:52 UTC)
- Place: Tocumen, Panama
- Coordinates: 9.066666, -78.392501 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=9.0667&lon=-78.3925&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Explosion (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: Direccion de Aeronautica Civil
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73503
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09WA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73503/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09WA216

## 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 best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Explosion (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R44
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 11442
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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