# NTSB ERA12WA086: Bell 212, Quito, Ecuador, November 25, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: November 25, 2011, 16:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Quito, Ecuador
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82401
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12WA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82401/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82401
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12WA086

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On November 25, 2011, about 1640 coordinated universal time (1140 local time), a Bell 212, Ecuadorian registration HC-CLH, operated by Aeromaster Airways, S.A., was substantially damaged when it impacted steep terrain next to the company's helipad in Quito, Ecuador. The two Ecuadorian pilots and two on board mechanics were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local post-maintenance check flight conducted under Ecuadorian flight regulations. Preliminary information from Ecuadorian authorities indicated that the helicopter had first conducted a series of hover checks before initiating a takeoff over a ravine. According to the pilot, during the takeoff, the helicopter lost rotor rpm, and he attempted a return to the helipad. However, the helicopter impacted the side of the helipad and descended 36 meters to the bottom of the ravine, where it came to rest on its left side in a creek. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Ecuador. Further information can be obtained from: Dirección General de Aviación Civil Junta Investigadora de Accidentes de la República del Ecuador Avenida Colón E5-56 y La Rábida Edificio Ave María Torre Sur Quito, República del Ecuador Tel: 593-02-223-8981 www.dgac.gov.ec This report is for informational purposes, and only contains information released by the government of Ecuador.

## Aircraft

- Registration: HC-CLH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212 (NO SERIES)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 30879
- Engines: PT-6 900 horsepower turbo shaft; Pratt and Whitney Canada PT-6 900 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Aeromaster Airways, SA
- Registered owner: Aeromaster Airways, SA
- Departed: Quito
- Destination: Quito
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: serious
- Co-pilot; injuries: serious

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82401. 51 KB in all.

- Memorandum for Record (item 1, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF

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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