# NTSB ERA12WA113: Robinson R44, Sao Bento do Sul, Brazil, December 9, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: December 9, 2011, 16:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Sao Bento do Sul, Brazil
- Coordinates: -26.381111, -49.36972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-26.3811&lon=-49.3697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: Miami International Field Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82538
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12WA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82538/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82538
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12WA113

## Sequence of events

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

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On December 9, 2011 at 1630 universal coordinated time, a Robinson R44, Brazilian registration PR-KLA, operated by SASH Locacao de Veiculos LTDA, as a personal flight, impacted terrain in the vicinity of Fazenda Coqueiros, Sao Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The commercial-rated pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Malwee Jaragua do Sul Airport (SSJS), Santa Catarina, Brazil en-route to a heliport (SNDY) in the vicinity of Fazenda Coqueiros. According to the Brazilian authorities witnesses reported hearing the helicopter flying over the region in cloudy weather with light rain. Suddenly there was the noise of an explosion. When they arrived at the accident site the helicopter was found destroyed. This investigation is under jurisdiction of the Government of Brazil. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center Investigative Division SHIS–QI 05–VI COMAR Brasilia-DF, Brazil 71.615-600 dac.saai@cenipa.aer.mil.br This report is for informational purposes, and contains only information released by the Government of Brazil.

## Aircraft

- Registration: PR-KLA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44 (II)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 13111
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: SASH Locacao de Veiculos
- Registered owner: SASH Locacao de Veiculos
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SSJS, Santa Catrarina
- Destination: SNDY, Fazenda Coqueir

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal; commercial; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: SBCT, 50 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82538. 40 KB in all.

- Foreign Accident Statement (item 1, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360261&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Foreign%20Accident%20Statement-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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