Was the Miami tour company helicopter in crash cleared to carry passengers?

David J. Neal, Miami Herald on Jun 16, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MIAMI — A tour company’s helicopter that crashed at North Perry Airport with four people aboard doesn’t appear to be categorized for carrying passengers.

The preliminary accident investigation report posted Monday to the FAA website says one person suffered serious injuries and three people suffered minor injuries when a helicopter carrying N-number N336SG crashed on takeoff Saturday in Pembroke Pines. A Robinson 44 with that N-number appears on most pages of Sky Helicopter Tours’ website, which advertises “Miami helicopter experiences.”

But helicopter N336SG, the online FAA registry says, is categorized under “Agriculture and Pest Control.” When asked by email if that allowed passengers, the FAA directed the Miami Herald to codes covering operating limitations for restricted category civil aircraft.

Part of that read: “No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire.”

The next section states, “No person may be carried on a restricted category civil aircraft unless that person:

•Is a flight crewmember

•Is a flight crewmember trainee

•Performs an essential function in connection with a special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated;

•Is necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special purpose

•Is necessary to accomplish an operation under paragraph (h) of this section (which has to do with pilot training).

None of that would seem to allow four passengers or the use of the helicopter as described on the Sky Helicopter Tour website.

The website says SkySafe Aviation operates the helicopter tour company. SkySafe, state records say, is run by Billy Costa and Marcelo Andrade, who owns the crashed helicopter through Andrade South Florida Services. A cellphone for Andrade goes directly to M&B Aircraft Maintenance Center, which the website says maintains the aircraft.

Andrade hasn’t responded to questions from the Miami Herald about the helicopter’s status as a passenger aircraft.

Herald news partner CBS News Miami said it had video showing two children from the crash on stretchers being unloaded at a hospital.

The NTSB said in an email to the Herald Saturday that preliminary information indicates the helicopter was getting ready to take off when it rolled over — and as it rolled over, it hit a parked airplane.