Sikorsky S61 accident near Palm Bay, FL
On September 6, 2016, a Sikorsky S61 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Palm Bay, FL. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 6, 2016
- Place
- Palm Bay, FL
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S61 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.941°N, 80.705°W
- NTSB ID
- 20160906X60042
Official records · ERA16FA311
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control Summary: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 6, 2016, about 1340 eastern daylight time, a Sikorsky S-61N, N805AR, was destroyed when it impacted a field after experiencing a dual loss of engine power while in a hover near Palm Bay, Florida. The airline transport pilot, the commercial-rated copilot, and the maintenance crewmember were fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to EP Aviation LLC and was being operated by AAR Airlift Group under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a post-maintenance flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Melbourne International Airport (MLB), Melbourne, Florida, at 1324. According to the operator, the helicopter's fore/aft pitch servo had recently been removed and replaced. Subsequently, three functional check flights (FCF) were required to be completed. Two FCFs were completed uneventfully the day of the accident, and the crewmembers were conducting the final FCF when the accident occurred. One of the maneuvers to be performed during the final FCF was rearward flight at a computed airspeed of 20 knots. According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), the flight crew performed two of these rearward FCF maneuvers during the accident flight. Video taken by a ground witness recorded the helicopter performing the first rearward maneuver about 200 ft above ground level. Correlation of the video to the CVR showed the helicopter flying rearward at 1337:25, when the copilot stated the rear speed was 15 knots. At 1337:40, the helico
Probable cause
A dual loss of engine power for undetermined reasons after the pilot's improper decision to attempt another maneuver after recovering from a perceived compressor stall, rather than returning to the airport.
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Browse: Florida · Sikorsky aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
