Robinson R22 accident near Sao Paulo, Br, July 11, 2012
On July 11, 2012 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered PTHOL, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Sao Paulo. It was an instructional flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 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
- July 11, 2012 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sao Paulo, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- PTHOL · no longer on the register · serial 2189
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 11, 2012, at 1300 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), a Robinson R22 Beta, Brazilian registration PT-HOL, operated by Master Escola Aviacao Civil Ltda, was destroyed following a loss of in-flight control and collision with a building near Sao Paulo, Brazil. The local flight originated in Sao Paulo. The two pilots were fatally injured. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Brazil. Further information can be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center Investigation Division SHIS – QI 05 – VI Comar, Brasilia-DF, Brazil 71.615-600 Tel (55-61) 3364-8838, Fax (55-61) 3365-1004 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
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: SBMT Sao Paulo
- Destination: SBMT Sao Paulo
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.