Helicopter Crash Investigation in Arizona
A report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released on Tuesday suggests that mechanical issues may have played a role in a tragic helicopter crash that occurred in Arizona last month. The incident happened while police were pursuing a suspect.
In the crash on February 4 in Flagstaff, Hunter Bennett, an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper and paramedic, along with flight supervisory pilot Robert Skunky, lost their lives.
The preliminary findings from the NTSB indicate that there is no evidence pointing to the Bell 407 helicopter, known as Ranger 56, being struck by anything, which is a slight relief. Maintenance records also showed no known issues. However, as the crew was trying to gain a better view of the suspect, the helicopter began to “rapidly rotate to the right,” according to the report.
The report states that shortly before the crash, Bennett reported he was “coming down.” Then, as the helicopter continued its descent, he communicated that it was “descending.” Immediately following this, a rotation of the helicopter was noted alongside some unidentified radio chatter, and then there were two loud bangs.
Despite no definitive cause being established, data taken from the helicopter’s engine control unit shows a concerning drop in the main rotor’s speed from 97% to 0% in just one second. At the same time, engine torque decreased from 60% to 2%, which is generally indicative of a momentary loss of rotor load, a troubling sign.
Furthermore, an examination of the wreckage revealed “angular cuts” on the tail rotor drive shaft, along with deep grooves in this shaft that appeared to match with contact from the main rotor blades, signaling some serious mechanical mishap.
The NTSB is still in the process of determining the official cause, which can typically take a year or two to finalize.
Hours before the crash, police were responding to a domestic violence call. They became embroiled in a two-hour standoff with the suspect, who was armed with a semi-automatic rifle.
The suspect, 50-year-old Terrell Storey, remains in custody and faces numerous serious charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.
Pilot Robert Skunky, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who joined DPS in 2021, is remembered by his wife and four children. Hunter Bennett, who joined in 2022, is survived by his wife, Brianna.
