Robinson Helicopter CO R66 accident near Colusa, California, August 1, 2021
On August 1, 2021 at about 7:51 pm local time, a 2013 Robinson Helicopter CO R66, registered N7000J, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Colusa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s abrupt flight control input that led to mast bumping and a subsequent in-flight breakup.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2021 · about 7:51 pm local time
- Place
- Colusa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter CO R66, built 2013
- Registration
- N7000J · registry record · serial 0411
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a personal flight during daytime visual flight rules conditions with three passengers aboard. A witness who was driving on a nearby highway observed the helicopter flying on an easterly heading about 50 to 100 ft above ground level. The witness stated that the helicopter was initially straight and level but had suddenly made a sharp left turn. The witness briefly lost sight of the helicopter due to trees; when he reestablished visual contact, he observed the helicopter descend and impact terrain. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. The forward left and right control tube attachment bolts at the nonrotating swashplate were not located at the accident site or within the recovered wreckage. The flight control bolts most likely separated during the accident sequence as a result of an overstress fracture. No evidence of preexisting loosening of the attachment nuts, such as substantial thread imprints in the lug bores, was observed. This damage was consistent with the blade grips contacting the mast, commonly referred to as mast bumping, which occurs due to excessive flapping motion of rotor blades (specifically, up-and-down motion of the blade tips). It is likely that, during the flight, the pilot made an abrupt flight control input that resulted in a main rotor blade contacting the tailboom and a subsequent in-flight breakup. The reason for the pilot’s abrupt control inputs could not be determined.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Mast bumping during enroute (cruise)
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › Main rotor mast/swashplate › Related operating info
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,568 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 462.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 2021; 84.3 hours since
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C300/A1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KWLW Willows CA at 7:07 pm
- Destination: Williams CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KOVE, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOVE 011953Z AUTO 24004KT 10SM CLR 33/14 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP159 T03280139
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Other NTSB records under N7000J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21FA300.