# Accident 20260710008349A: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp S-76D, Huntersville, WV, July 10, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 10, 2026, 07:45 local time
- Place: Huntersville, WV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.1842° N, 80.0044° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1842&lon=-80.0044&mi=10
- Aircraft: N93RT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93RT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-76D (registry code 8143021, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S (registry code 52294, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw210s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORP S-76D
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PW210S
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 9,340 total, 133 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA266) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260710008349A

## Narrative

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

WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER, FLYING VMC IN IMC CONDITIONS, MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A SCHEDULED OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN A VALLEY WITH 100 FOOT CIELINGS.  THE WITNESSES NEAR THE LANDING ZONE DID NOT SEE THE HELICOPTER, ONLY HEARING IT AS IT PASSED OVERHEAD.

THE HELICOPTER THEN DEPARTED FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RETURNING AT HIGH SPEED.  WITNESSES SAW IT DIVE OUT OF THE CLOUDS, LEVEL OFF JUST ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN QUICKLY CLIMB, ASCENDING INTO THE LOW FOG BEFORE HEARING IT COLLIDE WITH THE MOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF IT.

THE CRASH SCENE COVERED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 ACRE WITH THREE DISTINCT IMPACTS AS THE HELICOPTER TUMBLED UP THE STEEP MOUNTAINSIDE BEFORE BURSTING INTO FLAMES.

VERY SMALL DEBRIS SCATTERED OVER A VERY WIDE AREA INDICATED A HIGH-ENERGY, HIGH-SPEED IMPACT.

THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT AND DID NOT SURVIVE.

## 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 ERA26FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA266), Jul 10, 2026: Sikorsky S76 (N93RT), Huntersville, WV, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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.

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