Robinson R66 accident near Rio De Janeiro, Outside the U.S., November 20, 2013
On November 20, 2013 at about 10:30 am local time, a Robinson R66 (helicopter), registered PRMXM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Rio De Janeiro, Outside the U.S. (Hotel Portebello Heliport airport). It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was 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
- November 20, 2013 · about 10:30 am local time
- Place
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil · Hotel Portebello Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R66 · all R66s on the register
- Registration
- PRMXM · no longer on the register · serial 0195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during approach defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: SBJR Rio De Janeiro
- Destination: SIWS Mangaratiba
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.