# NTSB ERA15WA180: Bell 206 - L4, Diego de Almagro, Chile, March 31, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: March 31, 2015, 22:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Diego de Almagro, Chile
- Coordinates: -26.363611, -69.678054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-26.3636&lon=-69.6781&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91007
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15WA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91007/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15WA180

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On March 31, 2015, about 2210 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Bell 206L4, Chilean registration CC-APP, operated by a private individual, was destroyed during a collision with power lines and a subsequent postcrash fire, while maneuvering near Diego de Almagro, Chile. The foreign certificated private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the private flight that departed Aerodromo Chamonate, Copiapo, Chile; destined for the Wara Resort Heliport, Copiapo, Chile. At 1901 UTC, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had the destination heliport in sight. The pilot then changed radio frequencies and no further communications were received from the accident helicopter. The helicopter was located 2 days later in a mountainous about 37 kilometers east of Diego de Almagro, Chile. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Chile. Any further information can be obtained from: Director of Accident Prevention Analysis Office Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics Elena Blanco #1050, Providencia, Santiago de Chile 7541084 This report is for informational purposes, and contains only information released by the Government of Chile.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CC-APP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206 - L4
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 52182
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C30P turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: AsesoríAs E Inversiones Santa Francisca S.A.
- Registered owner: AsesoríAs E Inversiones Santa Francisca S.A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Departed: SCHA, Copiapo
- Destination: NONE, Copiapo
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; private; instrument ratings: helicopter

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles

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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