Robinson R66 N117TW

Summary

On 23 June 2016 at about 21:25 local time, a Robinson R66 registered N117TW was involved in an accident near Wikieup, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 2016 at 21:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Wikieup, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

34.4611, -113.6833

Aircraft

Robinson R66

Registration

N117TW

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Riverside

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16FA130

2 people died.

An encounter with turbulence due to updrafts and/or dust devils that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight break-up.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and the pilot-rated passenger departed on a cross-country positioning flight. The helicopter was reported overdue when it did not arrive at the destination, and the wreckage was located the following morning. There were no witnesses to the accident, no recorded radar data, and no recorded radio transmissions from the pilot. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. There was evidence that a mast bumping event had occurred and that the main rotor blades had contacted the airframe, which resulted in an in-flight break-up. There was no recorded information available that could be used to determine the helicopter's airspeed, altitude, or the pilot's control inputs. A weather study indicated that conditions were conducive to the development of significant updrafts or thermals of rising air and dust devils, and people near the accident site reported that there were numerous dust devils in the area. It is likely that the helicopter encountered turbulence due to updrafts and/or dust devils, and the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which resulted in mast bumping.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.