Agusta AW119MKII accident near Piranhas, Br, May 8, 2012
On May 8, 2012 at about 9:47 am local time, a Agusta AW119MKII (helicopter), registered PPCGO, was destroyed in an accident near Piranhas. It was an other work-use flight under non-U.S. private rules. 8 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
- May 8, 2012 · about 9:47 am local time
- Place
- Piranhas, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 8 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Agusta AW119MKII
- Registration
- PPCGO · no longer on the register · serial 14768
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 8, 2012, about 0947 universal coordinated time, an Augusta Westland AW119 MKII helicopter, Brazilian registration PP-CGO, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power in Piranhas, Goias, Brazil. The Brazilian certificated pilots and 6 passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed Santa Genoveva International Airport (SBGO), Goiania, Brazil; destined for a refueling point in Piranhas, Brazil. The helicopter was participating in a crime reconstruction exercise. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center (CENIPA) of Brazil. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center Investigation Division CENIPA SHIS - QI 05-VI Comar Brasilia-DF, Brazil 71.615-600 Telephone: (55-61) 3364-8800 Fax: (55-61) 3365-1004 dipaa.spai@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
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 309 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2014; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,996 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Civil Police
The flight
- Departed from: SBGO Goiania
- Destination: Piranhas
- 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 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.