Robinson R44 accident near Sao Sebastiao, Br, August 30, 2011
On August 30, 2011 at about 11:58 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered PPCLE, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Sao Sebastiao. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- August 30, 2011 · about 11:58 am local time
- Place
- Sao Sebastiao, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- PPCLE · no longer on the register · serial 12974
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 30, 2011, about 1158 Universal Coordinated time (UTC), a Robinson R44 II, Brazilian registration PP-CLE, registered to Old Ducan S.A., and operated by Seisa Clerman EMP. Imobiliarios LTDA, crashed near Sao Sebastiao Municipality, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the flight from Campo dos Amarais Airport (SDAM), Campinas, Brazil, to Angra dos Reis, State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, and the certificated private pilot and two passengers were killed. The flight originated about 1100 UTC, from SDAM. According to information from the Brazilian Government approximately 58 minutes into the flight, the aircraft disappeared from radar. A search and rescue team was summoned on the same day; however, because of adverse weather during the search and rescue, the wreckage was not located until September 1, 2011, at an elevation of 1,187 feet. Witnesses near the crash site reported strong winds at the time of the accident. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Brazil. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention And Investigation Center (CENIPA) Information Technology Division SHIS-QI 05-VI Comar Brasilia-DF, Brazil, 71.615.600 Phone: 55 61 3364 8819 Facsimile: 55 61 3365 1004 E-mail: dti@cenipa.aer.mil.br This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by or obtained for 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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Seisa Clerman Emp. Imobiliarios Ltd.
The flight
- Departed from: SDAM Campinas at 11:00 am
- Destination: ZZZZ Angra Dos Reis
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from SBST, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.