Robinson R44 accident near Sao Bento Do Sul, Br, December 9, 2011
On December 9, 2011 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered PRKLA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Sao Bento Do Sul. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was 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
- December 9, 2011 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sao Bento Do Sul, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- PRKLA · no longer on the register · serial 13111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Loss of visual reference during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise)
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SSJS Santa Catrarina at 4:15 pm
- Destination: SNDY Fazenda Coqueir
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 600 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from SBCT, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.