Home / Disasters and Accidents / Arizona Helicopter Crash: Rotor Failure Suspected
Arizona Helicopter Crash: Rotor Failure Suspected
11 Mar
Summary
- Two officers died when their helicopter crashed during a pursuit.
- A preliminary report suggests a mechanical issue caused the rotor failure.
- The suspect in the original call faces multiple murder charges.
A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report suggests a mechanical failure may be responsible for the fatal crash of an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter. The incident occurred on February 4th in Flagstaff while officers were in pursuit of an active shooter.
Trooper-paramedic Hunter Bennett and aviation supervisor pilot Robert Skankey lost their lives when their Bell 407 helicopter, known as Ranger 56, experienced a sudden and rapid rotation. The NTSB report indicated no evidence of gunfire and noted recent maintenance records showed no known issues with the aircraft.
During the helicopter's descent, data revealed a drastic drop in main rotor speed and engine torque. Examination of the wreckage uncovered "angular cuts" on the tail rotor driveshaft, showing signs of contact with a main rotor blade. The suspect involved in the original domestic violence call, Terrell Storey, faces numerous charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.
