N163AKDb Aerocopter AK1-3 · 2022

On May 17, 2025, about 1134 pacific daylight time, a DB Aerocopter Ltd., AK1-3, N163AK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Prineville, Oregon. The private pilot undergoing instruction was fatally injured, and the flight instructor sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 instructional flight.

The helicopter was not equipped with an ADS-B transponder, and radar coverage was not available in the area, however the initial departure along with segments of the accident sequence were captured by multiple security cameras in the vicinity of the airport.

A camera operated by Prineville Municipal Airport (S39), Prineville, Oregon, indicated that the helicopter took off from runway 29, about 1036. For the next hour it performed a series of takeoffs, landings and low hover maneuvers while remaining in the right traffic pattern for runway 29, with the last takeoff occurring at 1123.

A north-facing camera located at a business about 1,800 ft northeast of runway 29 midfield, captured the helicopter passing from left to right at 1134. It then began a rapid descent while in a slight nose-down attitude. The nose then pitched up, and the helicopter struck the ground, accompanied by a large dust cloud (figure 1). White fragments could then be seen being ejected from the initial impact point in an arcing trajectory to the east.

Figure 1 – Composite of Security Video Footage (video courtesy Centerline Drilling Inc.)

A witness, who was travelling west in her automobile along a road north of the airport observed the helicopter pass in front of her from right to left. She said the helicopter was travelling slower than she would have expected, and it then rapidly began to descend, striking the ground in a field to her left. She stated that the helicopter was not trailing smoke or vapor prior to the accident, and this observation was corroborated by the video footage.

The helicopter came to rest in a field, about 4,000 ft north of the approach end of runway 29, in an area that corresponded to the midfield downwind segment of the right traffic pattern.

The first identified point of impact was comprised of longitudinal slash marks in the soil, followed by a ground disruption that contained fragments of the tail rotor blades. Debris continued on a heading of about 120°, to a 15-ft-long, and 6-ft-wide soil disruption that matched to the general outline of the helicopter. The disruption contained the complete main skid assembly, which had been compressed such that the skids were level with the upper frame.

The debris field, which contained fragments of windshield and cabin contents, continued on the same heading to the main cabin about 60 ft downrange. At the time of examination, the helicopter was sitting upright, but according to first responders it was lying on its right side upon their arrival. The cabin was generally intact, with the main transmission and engine remaining attached to the airframe. Two main rotor blades were still attached to the head of the transmission mast, with the third located about 20 ft south.

The tail rotor gearbox assembly was located a further 170 ft downrange, with three sections of the tail tailcone located a further 100 ft northeast. The furthest component in the debris field was the tailrotor driveshaft, which was found 410 ft beyond the initial impact point. (figure 2)

Figure 2 – Debris field

Weather at the time of the accident included light rain with wind from 280° at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots.