2 fatal · Bell 206 · 2019-04-16 · Fort McDowell, AZ, USA
Event
NTSB number
WPR19FA109
Event ID
20190416X22532
Type
Accident
Date
2019-04-16
Location
Fort McDowell, AZ, USA
Coordinates
33.623611, -111.67555
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
2
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
2
Aircraft
Make
Bell
Model
206
Registration
N61PH
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The separation of the main rotor head from the mast as a result of a sudden displacement of the cyclic stick during a low-G maneuver, leading to mast bumping. Contributing to the accident were the unsecure positioning of the flight test engineer’s laptop computer and the deviation from standard operating procedures to leave the left seat cyclic control installed during the test flight.