# Accident 20160623010579A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Wikieup, AZ, June 23, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 23, 2016, 14:18 local time
- Place: Wikieup, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: G30S
- Location: 34.4611° N, 113.6833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4611&lon=-113.6833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N117TW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117TW-2016-10-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R66 (registry code 7640130, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C300 series (registry code 54225, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,441 total, 160 in this make and model, 102 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA130) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160623010579A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JUNE 23, 2016, AT ABOUT 14:18L, A ROBERTSON R66, N117TW, PILOTED BY TWO ATP RATED PILOTS,CRASHED NEAR WIKIEUP, AZ. THE AIRCRAFT BROKE UP IN FLIGHT AND WRECKAGE WAS SPREAD OVER ½ MILE. THE CABIN AREA WAS DESTROYED BY A POST-CRASH FIRE. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. BOTH PILOTS WERE KILLED. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO CRASH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR16FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA130), Jun 23, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N117TW), Wikieup, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: An encounter with turbulence due to updrafts and/or dust devils that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight break-up.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.