ST. LOUIS, MO, USA
N9024Z
ROBINSON R-22
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED BY SEVERAL WITNESSES FLYING AT 200-300 FEET ABOVE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. AS IT WOBBLED AND BUFFETED AND ROLLED TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS SPINNING AND THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION WITH A BLUEISH/WHITE SMOKE AND PIECES FLYING OFF AS IT FELL INVERTED. DURING THE FALL THE MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED AND WHAT WAS LEFT FELL INTO THE RIVER. A TUG BOAT RECOVERED SOME PAPERS, TWO CUSHIONS AND A WALLET BELONGING TO THE STUDENT PILOT. SEARCHING AND DRAGGING OPERATIONS WERE CONDUCTED FOR 4 DAYS WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS AND WERE TERMINATED. THE WRECKAGE AND BODIES HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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