Singer Rick Sollo Dies in a Helicopter Crash
Por Miriam Gonzalez ·
The world of sertanejo music is in mourning following the death of Rick Sollo, a member of the renowned Brazilian duo Rick & Renner, who died along with four other people after the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in the mountains of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil.
The accident occurred on Monday afternoon, when the aircraft lost contact with authorities amid extreme weather conditions. After an intensive search that lasted throughout the night, rescue teams located the helicopter’s wreckage at noon on Tuesday and confirmed that there were no survivors.
A search operation under extreme conditions
The Santa Catarina Military Fire Department coordinated a large-scale search operation to locate the missing aircraft. The operation involved nearly 50 rescue workers, drones equipped with thermal cameras, search dogs, more than ten specialized vehicles, and an SC-105 Amazonas aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force.
The helicopter had taken off from Porto Belo bound for São Joaquim, but was last seen over the Urubici region, near Morro da Igreja, a mountainous area where dense fog, hail, drizzle, and strong winds were reported that day.
Finally, the remains were found in the town of Santa Bárbara, within the municipality of Urubici, and the bodies were transported to the Forensic Medical Institute in Florianópolis for forensic examination.
After the tragedy was confirmed, Brazilian authorities launched two parallel investigations.
On the one hand, the Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aviation Accidents (CENIPA), together with SERIPA V of the Brazilian Air Force, began a technical analysis of the incident to identify the factors that contributed to the accident, including the condition of the aircraft and the weather conditions during the flight.
At the same time, the Santa Catarina Civil Police opened a criminal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to ascertain whether there was any intentional or negligent human conduct. The authorities clarified that the two investigations have different objectives and that the technical investigation will be led by CENIPA.
In addition to Rick Sollo, the helicopter was carrying businessman Bruno Avelar, videographer Paulo Soares, as well as pilot Antônio and co-pilot Leopoldo.
The crashed aircraft was a Bell 430, manufactured in 2001 and with a capacity for eight passengers. According to Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, it had valid documentation and an operating authorization valid through 2027.
Moments before takeoff, Paulo Soares shared photos on social media of Rick aboard the helicopter, making them some of the last images of the singer alive.
Rick Sollo: The Legacy of a Sertanejo Music Icon
Born Geraldo Antônio de Carvalho in 1966, Rick began his musical career in Brasília alongside Renner, with whom he formed the duo in 1986.
After several years performing in bars and nightclubs, both achieved national fame in the 1990s. Their biggest success came in 1998 with the album *Mil Vezes Cantarei* and the single “Ela é Demais,” a song that remained among Brazil’s most popular for months.
Throughout their career, Rick & Renner released 18 studio albums and three DVDs, and sold more than 10 million records. Among their most memorable songs are “Nos Bares da Cidade,” “Filha,” “Só Pensando em Você,” and “Muleca.”
In addition to being a singer, Rick built a successful career as a songwriter and producer, writing songs for artists such as Chitãozinho & Xororó, João Paulo & Daniel, Gian & Giovani, and Eduardo Costa.
At the time of the accident, the duo was on the road with the “Rick & Renner 40 Years” tour, a project celebrating four decades of one of the most successful partnerships in Brazilian sertanejo music.
Here you can watch the video showing the scene of the accident in which Rick Sollo died.