Robinson Helicopter Co R66 accident near Monticello, GA
On September 16, 2021, a Robinson Helicopter Co R66 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Monticello, GA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 16, 2021
- Place
- Monticello, GA
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Co R66 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.176°N, 83.769°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210916103882
Official records · ERA21FA362
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On September 15, 2021, at 2046 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R66 helicopter, N888DV, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at the Oconee National Forest, near Monticello, Georgia. The commercial pilot, the pilot-rated passenger, and one other passenger sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand charter flight. The pilot, who was the owner of the company, and a pilot-rated passenger, a part time company employee, were transporting a revenue passenger to southern Georgia and north Florida for personal business. The spouse of the passenger confirmed that the passenger chartered the flight to “look at properties” in the area and was supposed to return later that evening. The flight originated at Fulton County Executive Airport/Charlie Brown Field (FTY) Atlanta, Georgia, about 0700 and proceeded south, making a stop in Reidsville, Georgia, before continuing to Finlayson Farm Airport (9FL8) Greenville, Florida, where they landed and stayed for several hours before departing on the return flight under visual flight rules. During the return trip, they landed at Thomasville Regional Airport (TVI), Thomasville, Georgia, where they refueled with 40 gallons of fuel. Automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS–B) data indicated the flight departed TVI at 1840, then proceeded on a northerly track for about 80 nautical miles near the town of Andersonville, Georgia. At 1937, the passenger’s spouse sent a text message her husband and asked him, “What’s your ETA to home?” He responded with a photograp
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather conditions during a dark night and over unlit terrain, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of helicopter control.
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Browse: Georgia · Robinson 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.
