Bell 206 - L4 accident near Diego De Almagro, Cl, March 31, 2015
On March 31, 2015 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Bell 206 - L4 (helicopter), registered CCAPP, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Diego De Almagro. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- March 31, 2015 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Diego De Almagro, Chile · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 - L4 · all 206 - L4s on the register
- Registration
- CCAPP · no longer on the register · serial 52182
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 31, 2015, about 2210 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Bell 206L4, Chilean registration CC-APP, operated by a private individual, was destroyed during a collision with power lines and a subsequent postcrash fire, while maneuvering near Diego de Almagro, Chile. The foreign certificated private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the private flight that departed Aerodromo Chamonate, Copiapo, Chile; destined for the Wara Resort Heliport, Copiapo, Chile. At 1901 UTC, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had the destination heliport in sight. The pilot then changed radio frequencies and no further communications were received from the accident helicopter. The helicopter was located 2 days later in a mountainous about 37 kilometers east of Diego de Almagro, Chile. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Chile. Any further information can be obtained from: Director of Accident Prevention Analysis Office Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics Elena Blanco #1050, Providencia, Santiago de Chile 7541084 This report is for informational purposes, and contains only information released by the Government of Chile.
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 maneuvering defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SCHA Copiapo
- Destination: NONE Copiapo
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.