National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

Location: Fort McDowell, AZ Accident Number: WPR19FA109

Date & Time: 04/16/2019, 0706 MST Registration: N61PH
Aircraft: Bell 206 Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Flight Test

On April 16, 2019, at 0706 mountain standard time, a Bell 206B experimental helicopter,
N61PH, impacted an alfalfa field, about 1 mile south of Fort McDowell, Arizona. The
commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed.
The helicopter was registered to TRE Aviation Corporation and operated by Van Horn
Aviation, LLC for research and development flight testing under the provisions of Title 14 Code
of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan
was not filed. The second leg of the test flight originated from Falcon Field (FFZ), Mesa,
Arizona at 0632.

The purpose of the flight was to evaluate developmental main rotor blades that had been
installed on the helicopter. According to the operator, the helicopter was fueled for two test
flight legs. The helicopter departed at 0545 for the first event and returned at about 0620,
parked on the ramp with the engine at idle, and 100 lbs. of ballast was added to the helicopter.
Preliminary radar data showed that the helicopter departed at 0632 to continue the second leg
of the test flight. The test flight legs consisted of multiple autorotations at maximum gross
weight involving a simulated loss of engine power. The accident flight was the last test flight of
the main rotor blades before the certification process.

A witness who was walking to a bus stop, about 1/3 mile northwest of the accident site on Fort
McDowell road heard a loud bang southeast of her position. She saw the helicopter falling from
the sky and used her phone to video record the helicopter and several other objects descending
to the ground before losing site of it behind trees along the road.

Initial examination of the main wreckage revealed postcrash fire and impact damage consistent
with a right side-down, nose-level attitude during ground impact. The main rotor hub
assembly, vertical tail, tail rotor assembly, tail rotor driveshaft, and forward induction cowl
fairing separated from the main wreckage and was found in the debris field. The debris field
was about 1 mile long and 1,000 ft wide, covering an area of wooded desert terrain and flood
irrigated alfalfa fields. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further
examination.

Page 1 of 2 WPR19FA109
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
The helicopter was manufactured in 1981 and was equipped with a Rolls-Royce 250-C20B
engine. The helicopter was registered to the owner in January 2019.

The 0654 automated weather observation at FFZ, located about 12 miles to the south of the
accident site, included wind from 130° at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, and clear skies.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Bell Registration: N61PH
Model/Series: 206 B Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Van Horn Aviation Operating Certificate(s) None
Held:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KFFZ, 1380 ft msl Observation Time: 1354 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 130°
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 29.89 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Mesa, AZ (FFZ) Destination: Mesa, AZ (FFZ)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal Latitude, Longitude: 33.623611, -111.675556
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Andrew L Swick
Additional Participating Persons: Michael Moyer; FAA-FSDO; Scottsdale, AZ
Nick Shepler; Rolls-Royce; Indianapolis, IN
James Van Horn; Van Horn Aviation; Tempe, AZ
Note: The NTSB traveled to the scene of this accident.

Page 2 of 2 WPR19FA109
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.