What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 16, 2019, about 05:45 local mountain standard time, a Bell helicopter Textron model 206B, serial number 3282, N61PH, which was certificated under the provisions of 14 CFR section 21.191(a) (research and development) in support of supplemental type certificate (STC) project for new composite main rotor blades. The helicopter departed falcon field airport mesa, Arizona (kffz) and conducted an approximately 30 minute flight near fort Mcdowell, Arizona. The aircraft returned to falcon field airport mesa, Arizona (kffz) at approximately 06:20 where the crew reportedly landed without shutting down the helicopter, their mechanic added four (4) twenty-five (25) pounds of lead shoot ballast for the next flight test. The helicopter then departed again with ATC authorization at approximately 06:32. The last radar report was at 07:06 local with a heading of 345 and 87 knots at 4,400 MSL approximately 1 mile south of the town of fort Mcdowell, Arizona and approximately 11.67 miles north east of falcon field airport mesa, Arizona (kffz). The helicopter impacted the ground level on right side heading approximately 153 degrees at 1,309? Elevation. The aircraft was destroyed with post impact fire. The helicopter was registered to one company and operated by another company under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed with ATC. The commercial pilot and the one other crew member onboard sustained fatal injuries.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 16, 2019, ABOUT 05:45 LOCAL MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON MODEL 206B, SERIAL NUMBER 3282, N61PH, WHICH WAS CERTIFICATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR SECTION 21.191(A) (RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT) IN SUPPORT OF SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE (STC) PROJECT FOR NEW COMPOSITE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED FALCON FIELD AIRPORT MESA, ARIZONA (KFFZ) AND CONDUCTED AN APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTE FLIGHT NEAR FORT MCDOWELL, ARIZONA. THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO FALCON FIELD AIRPORT MESA, ARIZONA (KFFZ) AT APPROXIMATELY 06:20 WHERE THE CREW REPORTEDLY LANDED WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE HELICOPTER, THEIR MECHANIC ADDED FOUR (4) TWENTY-FIVE (25) POUNDS OF LEAD SHOOT BALLAST FOR THE NEXT FLIGHT TEST. THE HELICOPTER THEN DEPARTED AGAIN WITH ATC AUTHORIZATION AT APPROXIMATELY 06:32. THE LAST RADAR REPORT WAS AT 07:06 LOCAL WITH A HEADING OF 345 AND 87 KNOTS AT 4,400 MSL APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE TOWN OF FORT MCDOWELL, ARIZONA AND APPROXIMATELY 11.67 MILES NORTH EAST OF FALCON FIELD AIRPORT MESA, ARIZONA (KFFZ). THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND LEVEL ON RIGHT SIDE HEADING APPROXIMATELY 153 DEGREES AT 1,309? ELEVATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED WITH POST IMPACT FIRE. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO ONE COMPANY AND OPERATED BY ANOTHER COMPANY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED WITH ATC. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE ONE OTHER CREW MEMBER ONBOARD SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.