Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Catamara Ecuador
Friday, June 28, 2002 14:35 UTC

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On June 28, 2002, at 1435 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Robinson R-44 helicopter, Ecuadorian registration HC-BXJ, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of power during initial takeoff climb from an airstrip near Catamara, Province of Los Rios, in the Republic of Ecuador. The airline transport rated helicopter pilot and his 2 passengers were seriously injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by COLAEREOS S.A., of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The on-demand air taxi flight originated from the Simon Bolivar International Airport (GYE), near Guayaquil, Ecuador, at 1400 UTC, with Ricaurte, Province of Los Rios, as its intended final destination. The helicopter made an intermediate stop at the airstrip near Catamara to pick-up a passenger. Witnesses reported that approximately 15 seconds after takeoff from the airstrip, while still on its initial takeoff climb, a "loud bang" was heard and the helicopter descended into the terrain. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Government of the Republic of Ecuador. Any further information may be obtained from: Republica del Ecuador Direccion General de Aviacion Civil (DGAC) Buenos Aires 149 y 10 de Agosto P.O. Box 2077 Quito, Ecuador This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from the DGAC of the Republic Ecuador.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Event City CATAMARA
Event State --
Event Country ECUADOR
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source DGAC of Ecuador
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2002 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record MORJU
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number FTW02WA193
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
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 Simon Bolivar International Airport
Operator City Guayaquil
Operator State --
Operator Country EC
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GYE
Departure City Guayaquil
Departure State --
Departure Country EC
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone UTC
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Ricaurte
Destination State --
Destination Country EC
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing after takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2002 4:38PM
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 --