Accident Overview
On June 19, 2024, at approximately 1620 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopters R-44 II, registration N323TT, was destroyed in an accident near Bluestem, Washington. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight History
According to the pilot's wife, he was returning the helicopter to Coeur d'Alene / Pappy Boyington Field (COE) in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and had invited a friend, who was a certificated airplane pilot, to accompany him. Recorded Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the helicopter departed Boeing Field / King County International Airport (BFI) in Seattle, Washington, at 1328. It arrived at Bowers Field Airport (ELN) in Ellensburg, Washington, at about 1437, where the airport manager reported that the pilot purchased 14 gallons of fuel. The helicopter departed ELN at 1511. ADS-B data indicated the flight proceeded northeast at altitudes between 2,500 and 3,800 ft mean sea level (msl) with a groundspeed of approximately 100 knots. The final recorded ADS-B point placed the helicopter at an altitude of about 3,050 ft msl (approximately 740 ft above ground level) and a groundspeed of 69 knots, located about 50 ft southwest of the accident site.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter impacted open, hilly terrain. The main fuselage came to rest upright at the first point of impact on a heading of about 086° magnetic at an elevation of 2,182 ft msl. The tail rotor assembly and approximately two feet of the tail cone separated from the helicopter and were found about 340 ft southwest of the fuselage. Various fragments were dispersed along the debris path between the fuselage and the tail rotor assembly. A postaccident fire consumed most of the fuselage. The remaining tail cone, engine, and main rotor assembly were present but sustained thermal damage. The wreckage was subsequently transported to a secure facility for further examination.