The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ERA10WA509 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Robinson R44 accident near Lagoa Do Triunfo, Para, Br, September 15, 2010

On September 15, 2010 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered PRDAN, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lagoa Do Triunfo, Para (Fazenda Lagoa Do Triunfo airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people were killed.

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 15, 2010 · about 9:50 pm local time
Place
Lagoa Do Triunfo, Para, Brazil · Fazenda Lagoa Do Triunfo · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
4 people were killed.
Weather
not recorded
Aircraft
Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
Registration
PRDAN · no longer on the register · serial 12938
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules

The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record

On September 15, 2010, about 2150 universal coordinated time, a Robinson R-44 II helicopter, Brazilian registration PR-DAN, was substantially damaged when it impacted the terrain in Lagoa do Triunfo, Para, Brazil. The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter departed from a farm, and was en route to Fazenda Lagoa do Triunfo Airport (SNXK), Sao Felix do Xingu, Para, Brazil. 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 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Brazil.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event

Pilot

  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Lagoa Do Triunf
  • Destination: SNXK Sao Felix Do Xi
  • Flight plan: not recorded

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Sky: not recorded; not recorded
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers3

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.