Robinson R44 accident near Guarani Municipality, Br, October 25, 2015
On October 25, 2015 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered PPBAO, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Guarani Municipality. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
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
- October 25, 2015 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Guarani Municipality, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- PPBAO · no longer on the register · serial 13030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 25, 2015, at 1730 local time (1930 coordinated universal time), a Robinson R44, Brazilian registration PP-BAO, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and a lake after takeoff in the Guarani Municipality, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The pilot was fatally injured, one passenger received minor injuries. The flight, which originated in Fazenda Cachoeira Alegre, Brazil, was being conducted under Brazilian flight regulations. 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: (55-21) 3368-3616 / (55-21) 99400-7892 Fax: (55-21) 3368-3616 investiga@seripa1.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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fazenda Cachoei
- Destination: Guarani Municipality
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.