Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE accident near Winslow, Arizona, March 21, 2026
On March 21, 2026 at about 9:06 pm local time, a 1975 Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE (helicopter), registered N71FR, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Winslow, Arizona (Winslow-Lindbergh Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries.
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2026 · about 9:06 pm local time
- Place
- Winslow, Arizona · Winslow-Lindbergh Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE, built 1975 · all SA341G GAZELLEs on the register
- Registration
- N71FR · registry record · serial 1274
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Nivlem Farm Management LLC
The flight
- Destination: 7FL6 Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 260° at 17 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KINW
Weather report (METAR): KINW 212056Z AUTO 26017G32KT 10SM CLR 35/M13 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 23032/2048 SLP104 T03501128 56033=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR26LA131.