Robinson R44 - II accident near Santa Monica, Br, January 10, 2015
On January 10, 2015 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Robinson R44 - II (helicopter), registered PRHPR, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Santa Monica. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
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
- January 10, 2015 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 - II · all R44 - IIs on the register
- Registration
- PRHPR · no longer on the register · serial 11072
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 10, 2015, about 2000 universal coordinated time, a Robinson R44 II, Brazilian registration PR-HPR, was destroyed by impact and fire after collision with wires and terrain during cruise flight in Santa Monica, Parana, Brazil. There was a post-crash fire. The Brazilian certificated pilot was fatally injured. One passenger was seriously injured. The flight departed Porto Rico, Brazil, and was destined for Santa Monica, Brazil. According to investigators, the helicopter was in cruise flight when it collided with high-tension electrical wires above a highway. Following an uncontrolled descent, the helicopter collided with the roadway, and skidded about 250 meters before it came to rest and caught fire. 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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Porto Rico
- Destination: Santa Monica
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.