Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Fortuna Panama
Sunday, July 8, 2001 10:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On July 08, 2001, at 1020 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-44 helicopter, Paraguayan registration ZP-PHRA, was destroyed upon impact with terrain while maneuvering near La Fortuna, Paraguay. The airline rated pilot, and his passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Trans-America Lineas Aereas S.A. , of Asuncion, Paraguay. The personal flight originated from the pilot's airstrip near Ponta Pora, Brazil, at an undetermined time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area at the time of the accident for the local flight. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay. Any further information may be obtained from: Republic of Paraguay Direccion Nacional de Aeronautica Civil Ministerio de Defensa Nacional Segundo Piso Avda. Mariscal Lopez y Vice Presidente Sanchez Casilla de Correos 1568 Asuncion, Paraguay This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information release by or obtained from the Goverment of Paraguay.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1020
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LA FORTUNA
Event State --
Event Country PANAMA
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source DGAC OF PARAGUAY
NTSB Notification Date Jul 9 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 24 2001 9:40AM
User who most recently changed record MORJU
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office SAN ANTONIO, TX

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number WAS01RA011
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R-44
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ASUNCION
Operator State --
Operator Country PA
Operator Zip code 00000
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City PONTA PORA
Departure State --
Departure Country BR
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 24 2001 9:40AM
User who most recently changed record MORJU
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --