Bell 206 accident near Maceio, Br, September 23, 2015
On September 23, 2015 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered PPELA, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Maceio. 4 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
- September 23, 2015 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Maceio, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L3 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- PPELA · no longer on the register · serial 51536
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 23, 2015, at 1350 universal coordinated time, a Bell 206L-3, Brazilian registration PP-ELA, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in Maceio, Brazil. The four occupants were fatally injured. The local police patrol flight originated at Zumbi dos Palmares international Airport (SBMO), Maceio, Brazil and was conducted under Brazilian flight regulations. The investigation is under the direction of the Government of Brazil. For further information contact: Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center Investigative Division SHIS-QI 05-VI COMAR Brasilia-DF, Brazil 71.615-600 Tel: (55-61) 3364-8812 Email: dipaa.spai@cenipa.aer.mil.br This report is for informational purposes, and only contains 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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SBMO Maceio
- Destination: SBMO Maceio
- 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 | 4 |
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.