The NTSB is investigating the December 22,

2024, accident involving an experimental amateur-

built Van’s RV-7A near Gila Bend, AZ. The

pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passenger

was not injured. The airplane was operated as a

Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that about four minutes

after departing Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR),

Phoenix, AZ, he leveled off at 4,400 feet MSL

and felt abnormal vibrations emanating from the

engine. To troubleshoot the anomaly, he slowly

enriched the mixture, and the engine continued to

run rough. Additionally, he ensured that the fuel

selector was in the right fuel tank position and in

the detent, the propeller control was full forward,

and full throttle was applied. However, engine

RPM appeared to be decreasing. The pilot stated

that manipulation of the mixture control had no

corresponding effect and he noticed that there

was a lack of tension on the mixture control

cable. He moved the throttle control about

halfway toward idle, and the engine roughness

slightly subsided, and engine appeared to lose

total power. The pilot applied full throttle, which

produced a corresponding yet intermittent surge

in engine power.

The pilot contacted Albuquerque Center,

transmitted that he had an engine failure, and

made a left turn toward Gila Bend Municipal

Airport (E63). Unable to make it to E63, the pilot

initiated a forced landing to a field with tall desert

vegetation. During the landing, the airplane nosed

over. Post accident examination of the airplane

revealed that the left wing sustained substantial

damage. The wreckage was recovered to a

secure facility for further examination.

The NTSB is investigating the December 21,

2024, problems with multiple small unmanned aircraft

(sUA) that experienced a loss of control and

rapid descent while performing at a sUA light

show at Lake Eola, Orlando, FL. The swarm of

sUA was operated by a company that puts on

drone shows. A minor child was impacted in the

face and chest by a sUA and was seriously

injured. A post accident inspection revealed that

numerous sUA impacted the ground and sustained

substantial damage.

The sUA light show was operating under Part

107 and a Certificate of Waiver and Authorization

issued by the FAA. The Uvify IFO is a small

swarm light show drone, with four propellers

weighing about 2.18 pounds. Overall dimensions

are about 10.8 inches in length x 10.8 inches in

width x 4.9 inches in height.

The remote pilot in command (RPIC) reported

that the light show consisted of 500 sUA

launched from a small peninsula in the northeast

corner of Lake Eola. Setup for the day was standard

and consisted of preflight checks, ensuring

that the software programming matched and was

updated on all show computers, and the layout of

the 500-drone grid on the ground.

The NTSB is investigating the December 20,

2024, accident involving a Cessna 172S near

Cintrona, PR. The private pilot was fatally injured.

The airplane was operated as a Part 91 personal

flight.

The airplane departed Fernando Luis Ribas

Dominicci Airport (TJIG), San Juan, PR, and the

first ADS-B-derived track data showed that it was

about 8 nautical miles (nm) southwest of the airport.

The airplane continued to Antonio Rivera

Rodríguez Airport (TJVQ), Isla de Vieques, PR

where the pilot performed an approach consistent

with a touch-and-go landing. The airplane then

proceeded to Mercedita Airport (TJPS), Ponce,

PR, where the pilot performed another touch-andgo

landing before departing to the north.

Shortly after departure from TJPS, a recording

of the airport’’s common traffic advisory frequency

captured that the pilot transmitted, “Mayday mayday…

loss of control.” This was followed by a

final mayday transmission about 20 seconds

later. The last ADS-B track data point was located

about 2 nm northeast of the departure end of

Runway 12 at TJPS and about 0.3 nm northeast

of the accident site. The accident site was located

in a mango orchard about 1.8 nautical miles (nm)

from the departure end of Runway 12 at TJPS.

There was debris strewn along a path that was

about 360 feet-long, oriented on a magnetic

heading of 345 degrees, and at an elevation of 46

feet MSL.

The initial impact point was about 15 feet up a

mango tree. The initial ground impact scar was

about 140 feet from the tree impact and contained

pieces of wheel fairing embedded in the

scar. The main impact crater, which contained the

propeller, was about 30 feet from the initial

ground impact scar. The tree next to the main

impact crater contained pieces of wing leading

edge and about a 6-inch diameter branch was

impact-separated.

The NTSB is investigating the December 19,

2024, accident involving a Beech A36 near East

Aurora, NY. The private pilot was fatally injured.

The airplane was operated as a Part 91 personal

flight.

Preliminary air traffic control (ATC) data indicated

that the airplane departed from Capital

Region International Airport (LAN), Lansing, MI,

on an IFR flight plan to Westchester County

Airport (HPN), White Plains, NY. About 1 hour

and 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at

12,500 feet, the pilot declared an emergency,

reporting ““very low power on my engine”” and

requesting to remain as high as possible. Air traffic

control initially directed the pilot to Buffalo

Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, NY,

and subsequently provided vectors to Buffalo

Airfield (9G0).

The pilot reported that while the engine was

still producing power, the airplane was no longer

able to maintain altitude. He stated he did not

think the airplane could reach either airport, and

opted for an off-airport landing. Air traffic control

provided vectors toward a freeway, but the pilot

indicated he would attempt a landing in a field.

Radar contact was lost shortly afterward, near the

accident site.

Witnesses near the accident site observed the

airplane flying low, approximately 30 feet above a

tree line, before seeing a black plume of smoke.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the

airplane initially struck a tree trunk and came to

rest approximately 40 feet beyond the impact

point. A post impact fire consumed the fuselage,

cockpit, and inboard wing sections.

The NTSB is investigating the December 17,

2024, accident involving a turbine-powered

Cessna 208B airplane near Honolulu, HI. The two

pilots onboard were fatally injured. The airplane

was operated as a Part 91 instructional flight.

According to the operator, the instructor pilot,

seated in the left seat, and the pilot receiving

instruction, seated in the right seat, departed the

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (PHNL),

Honolulu, at 1514. The purpose of the flight was

to provide the pilot receiving instruction with additional

training as part of the operator’s Second-In-

Command training program. The planned flight

was expected to go to Lanai Airport (PHNY),

Lanai City, HI, to perform flight maneuvers as well

as practice instrument approach procedures. The

operator reported that about 80 gallons of fuel

were added to each wing tank just prior to departure.

According to archived air traffic control communications,

the airplane was cleared to depart

Runway 4L and was expected to follow the published

VFR Shoreline Six departure. The procedure

called for departing traffic to fly runway

heading, then turn right. A preliminary review of

archived voice communication information from

the FAA revealed that shortly after departure, the

Honolulu tower controller contacted the airplane

and asked to confirm if they were turning right.

The instructor pilot responded by saying: “”we are

…we have …we are out of control here.”

The accident airplane passed over an industrial

area to the northeast of PHNL. As the flight

progressed on a north-northeasterly heading, the

left turn continued, and the airplane turned to a

south westerly heading. The airplane’s left turn

continued to steepen, and it eventually descended

nose down into the industrial area just north of

PHNL.

The NTSB is investigating the December 16,

2024, accident involving an Airbus A350 B3 helicopter

near Potrero, CA. The pilot was fatally

injured. The helicopter was operated as a public

use flight.

According to a representative of Customs and

Border Protection (CBP), the helicopter was

scheduled for a routine aerial support mission.

ADS-B data from the FAA showed that the helicopter

departed Brown Field Municipal Airport,

San Diego, CA, about 0856 on a westerly heading

and subsequently began a climbing right turn

to the north.

At 1006:54, approximately 1,000 feet MSL,

the helicopter turned east and continued to climb

as it gradually transitioned to a northeasterly

heading. At 0933:59 the helicopter leveled off at

approximately 5,800 feet MSL and then turned

southeast for approximately 7 minutes as it

descended. At 0950:38, the helicopter reached

4,650 feet MSL, and began another climb that

would return it to an altitude of 5,800 feet MSL

over the next 14 minutes. At 1007:52, the helicopter

made an extended left hand 360 degrees

turn, descended to about 4,600 feet MSL and

climbed again to about 5,600 feet MSL. At

1021:58 the helicopter turned to the southwest

and leveled off 4 minutes later at 4,300 feet MSL.

At 1029:26, in the next 49 seconds the helicopter

made two S-turns as it descended from 4,200

feet to 3,100 feet MSL. According to the Air Force

Rescue Coordination Center, the emergency

locator transmitter sent its first detection at

1030:34.