Paradigm Helicopters S-76D Crashes on Night Approach in Texas

On August 31, 2025, a Sikorsky S-76D helicopter operated by Paradigm Helicopters crashed while attempting a night approach to a private landing site near Round Mountain, Hays County, Texas. The two pilots and the passenger survived with serious injuries.

The Part 135 charter flight was transporting Stephen Winn from Dallas Love Field to his ranch. The flight had been scheduled for a 17:00 departure but was delayed until 19:55 because of the passenger's late arrival from New York. This turned what would have been a daytime flight into a night approach. Due to previous issues with the helicopter's autopilot, the captain chose not to fly an instrument approach to the landing site.

The aircraft, registered N36RP, had experienced multiple autopilot problems over the preceding six to eight months, according to the operator's documentation. These issues were recorded but not examined further in the investigation. The co-pilot believed the flight was a private Part 91 operation, while the commander considered it a Part 135 charter flight.

The landing site is small, roughly 7 meters in diameter, at an elevation just over 1,000 feet. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published its safety investigation report on August 25, 2026.