Robinson R66 accident near Sirinhaem Municipality, Br, November 11, 2015
On November 11, 2015 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Robinson R66 (helicopter), registered PREDL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sirinhaem Municipality. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
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 11, 2015 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Sirinhaem Municipality, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R66 · all R66s on the register
- Registration
- PREDL · no longer on the register · serial 0149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 11, 2015, about 1755 coordinated universal time, a Robinson R66, Brazilian registration PR-EDL, was substantially damaged during an emergency autorotation near Sirinhaem, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, when the main rotor blades contacted and separated the tail boom upon touchdown. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed from Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (SBRF) Imbiribeira, Brazil and was enroute to Cucau, Brazil. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Brazil. Further information can be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center Phones: +55 61 3364-8812 Professional email: international@cenipa.aer.mil.br Address: SHIS QI 05 - ÁREA ESPECIAL 12 - VI COMAR - LAGO SUL BRASÍLIA - DF CEP 71.615-600 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
Pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce RR300 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBRF Imbirbeira
- Destination: Cucau
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 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.