Robinson R44 accident near Recife, Br, January 23, 2018
On January 23, 2018 at about 9:15 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered PPHLI, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Recife. It was an aerial observation flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were 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 23, 2018 · about 9:15 am local time
- Place
- Recife, Brazil
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- PPHLI · no longer on the register · serial 10026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
The government of Brazil has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a ROBINSON R44 helicopter that occurred on January 23, 2018. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Brazil's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13.All investigative information will be 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
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: SBRF Recife
- Destination: SBRF Recife
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from SBRF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.