# NTSB WPR26LA131: Aerospatiale SA341G Gazelle, N71FR, Winslow, AZ, March 21, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: March 21, 2026, 14:06 local (21:06 UTC)
- Place: Winslow, AZ · airport fueling ramp
- Coordinates: 35.02191, -110.72251 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0219&lon=-110.7225&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202681
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA131
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202681/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA131

## Preliminary report

On March 21, 2026, about 1406 mountain daylight time, a Aerospatiale SA341G Gazelle, N71FR, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Winslow, Arizona. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he hired a flight instructor to conduct a cross-country flight from Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU) Boulder City, Nevada, to Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6), Daytona Beach, Florida. The pilot reported that he landed at Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport (INW) to refuel the helicopter after their first leg of the cross-country trip. After the helicopter was refueled with 83 gallons of Jet-A aviation fuel, the pilot completed the tasks on a preflight checklist and start-up with no anomalies. Shortly after, the pilot reported that he lifted off the ground to a 5-foot hover and initiated a max performance takeoff from the ramp area. The pilot climbed forward to a maximum altitude of about 12 feet above the ground and then observed the maximum torque caution light flicker and illuminate. Immediately, the instructor told the pilot to lower the collective, with which the pilot slightly lowered the collective and turned the helicopter to the right. Subsequently, the helicopter settled onto the ground and landed hard. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot added that the engine had an over-temperature event of at least 8 seconds, at over 800° C. The helicopter was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=8680610), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71FR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71FR), registered now, S/N 1274, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA341G GAZELLE
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa341g-gazelle) (registry code 8680610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ASTAZOU-111A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-111a) (registry code 60007, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1274
- Year built: 1975
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nivlem Farm Management LLC
- Registered owner: Nivlem Farm Management LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: 7FL6, Daytona Beach, FL
- Airport: INW, Winslow-Lindbergh Rgnl
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Weather

- Wind: 260° at 17 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KINW
- METAR: KINW 212056Z AUTO 26017G32KT 10SM CLR 35/M13 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 23032/2048 SLP104 T03501128 56033=


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.

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