Investigation Summary
The collision occurred at approximately 08:59 local time above the grounds of an abandoned church currently utilized by a car dealership. The Bell 206B (PP-MAC, MSN 5258) had four passengers and one pilot, while the Eurocopter (PR-DJJ, MSN 7437) was operated solely by its pilot. Witnesses reported seeing one aircraft in flames before impact and one individual attempting to jump from a helicopter before it hit the ground. The resulting fire at the dealership presented significant challenges for the 45 military personnel deployed to the scene, as the lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicles required three to four times the standard amount of water to extinguish and released toxic gases. Debris, including a tail section found on a neighboring roof, was scattered across a 100-meter radius. Identification of the victims was complicated by the severity of the post-crash fire, with Oliver Tree's identity only confirmed via dental analysis two days after the accident.
Final Conclusions
The investigation is being conducted by the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) and the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). As of June 2026, investigators are reviewing security camera footage and air traffic recordings to determine if the collision resulted from human error by the pilots or air traffic control. The investigation is ongoing.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
RG8 Aviation PP-MAC — Bell 206B JetRanger III · PP-MAC
Private PR-DJJ — Eurocopter AS 350B2 Esquilo · PR-DJJ
Systems & Failure Modes
Lithium-ion Batteries
The presence of these batteries in the cars at the crash site intensified the fire and released toxic gases, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
Investigators are determining if the pilots maintained proper separation while operating in the busy Rio de Janeiro airspace.
Interesting Facts
- 01The Bell 206B (PP-MAC) was manufactured in 1999 and operated by RG8 Aviation, with legal registration to Turfik Comercio de Frutas Ltda.
- 02The Eurocopter AS 350B2 (PR-DJJ) was manufactured in 2012 and was privately owned.
- 03The crash site was a parking lot for a BYD car dealership on Avenida das Américas.
- 04The fire destroyed approximately 20 electric vehicles.
- 05The owner of the Bell 206B had been fined by ANAC in 2025 for refusing to provide accounting and inspection documents.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Proposed State Legislation
State deputy Claudio Caiado proposed a bill in the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro to increase transparency, monitoring, and sanctions for air operations within the state.