Aérospatiale SA 341G Gazelle, N71FR, accident occurred on March 21, 2026, at Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport (INW/KINW), Winslow, Arizona

• Location: Winslow, AZ 
• Accident Number: WPR26LA131 
• Date & Time: March 21, 2026, 14:06 Local 
• Registration: N71FR 
• Aircraft: Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE 
• Injuries: 2 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202681/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N71FR

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.

Lancair Legacy, N212LG, accident occurred on March 16, 2026, at Portland-Hillsboro Airport (HIO/KHIO), Hillsboro, Oregon

• Location: Hillsboro, OR 
• Accident Number: WPR26LA140 
• Date & Time: March 16, 2026, 12:57 UTC 
• Registration: N212LG Aircraft: Lancair Legacy 
• Injuries: 1 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202699/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N212LG

On March 16, 2026, about 1257 Pacific daylight time, a Lancair Legacy, N212LG, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot stated that after an uneventful local flight he configured the airplane to land on runway 31L. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear and while decelerating, the nose landing gear contacted the runway. The nose gear had a violent shimmy that continued even as the airplane slowed. As the pilot prepared to exit the runway he applied brakes and the nose landing gear subsequently collapsed. The propeller struck the runway surface and the airplane came to rest in a nose-low attitude on the runway. During the accident sequence several of the engine mounts and part of the forward fuselage structural tubing had cracked.

The pilot stated that the landing gear indications in the cockpit showed the gear in the down and locked position. The pilot, who built the airplane and holds a repairman certificate, reported that the nose landing gear incorporated a stainless-steel bushing modification in the over-center hinge. He stated that during the most recent condition inspection, the mechanism appeared to move over-center as intended.

A review of data recorded by the Garmin G3X flight display revealed that at 1254:50, the gear extension cycle was initiated, and the gear remained in transit for about 5 seconds, consistent with an airborne extension. At 1254:56, the data indicated the landing gear was down and locked, with the airplane still airborne. At 1256:25, weight-on-wheels was detected, with no gear fault present. About 12 seconds later the gear-down indication was lost while weight-onwheels remained active, and a gear fault was recorded. Between 1256:38 and 1256:40, the gear fault indication cleared briefly before returning at 1256:43 when a persistent gear fault was present with a no gear-down indication while the airplane remained sensed as on the ground. The canopy was opened at 1257:04.