Bell Helicopter 206 accident near Barra Da Tijuca, Br, May 9, 2018
On May 9, 2018 at about 2:05 pm local time, a 1980 Bell Helicopter 206, registered PTHKY, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Barra Da Tijuca. It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed and 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- May 9, 2018 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Barra Da Tijuca, Brazil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter 206 B, built 1980 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- PTHKY · no longer on the register · serial 3146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,760.4 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, February 19, 2018; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,201 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: SDRE Rio De Janeiro at 1:50 pm
- Destination: SBCB Cabo Frio
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 2:00 pm from SBJR, 3 miles away
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 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.