Sikorsky S76 accident near Valle Nuevo, Do, May 17, 2018
On May 17, 2018 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1989 Sikorsky S76 (helicopter), registered N76VR, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Valle Nuevo. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2018 · about 3:00 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Valle Nuevo, Dominican Republic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 8 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S76 B, built 1989 · all S76s on the register
- Registration
- N76VR · registry record · serial 760360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N76VR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N76VR on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Sikorsky S-76 141 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Sikorsky 827 aircraft on the register
- Other NTSB records under N76VR 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ENG18WA034.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.