Sikorsky S76 accident near Morrilton, Arkansas, May 15, 2019
On May 15, 2019 at about 11:33 pm local time, a 2013 Sikorsky S76 (helicopter), registered N761AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Morrilton, Arkansas (Morrilton Muni airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper securing of the exhaust duct bolts, which resulted in the duct becoming unseated and substantial heat damage to the tail rotor drive shaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2019 · about 11:33 pm local time
- Place
- Morrilton, Arkansas · Morrilton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S76, built 2013 · all S76s on the register
- Registration
- N761AF · registry record · serial 761039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the helicopter air ambulance flight reported that he experienced fumes in the cockpit while enroute, and shortly thereafter, received visual and aural warnings of smoke in the aft baggage compartment. The pilot initiated an emergency descent into an alternate airport, declared an emergency with air traffic control, and landed uneventfully. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the No. 2 engine exhaust duct was disconnected and unseated, which resulted in engine exhaust entering the compartment containing the tail rotor drive shaft and substantial heat damage to the drive shaft and surrounding areas. Examination of the No. 1 engine exhaust duct revealed that its attach bolts were not tightened to the specified torque value. Additionally, examination of the operator’s other helicopter revealed that the bolts securing both of its two exhaust ducts were not tightened to the specified torque value. The maintenance history of these components was not determined, but given the available information, it is likely that they were improperly secured, which resulted in their loosening and subsequently allowed the exhaust duct to become unseated.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,518 hours in all; 431 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 5,165 as pilot in command; 4,438 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 28, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
Other crew
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,488 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 13, 2019; 205 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,875 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney PW210S (turboshaft); 2,693 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney PW210S (turboshaft); 2,693 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 14AR Springdale AR at 10:50 pm
- Destination: AR62 Little Rock AR
- Runway 09/2, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KRUE, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 5, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N761AF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.