Rotor Failure Cited in Arizona Police Helicopter Crash That Killed Two During Shootout
A preliminary investigation report has pointed to a significant mechanical problem with the main rotor as the likely cause of a deadly police helicopter crash that occurred during a shootout in Flagstaff, Arizona. The incident, which took place on the night of February 4, resulted in the deaths of two individuals on board: Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper paramedic Hunter Bennett, 28, and pilot Robert Skankey, 61.
Details of the Crash and Investigation
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report released on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, a radio feed from the helicopter captured two loud banging sounds followed by a voice stating “we’re going down,” just moments before the aircraft crashed. The report emphasized that there was no sign of “ballistic punctures” in the wreckage, ruling out the possibility that bullets fired during the gunfight caused the crash.
Instead, the investigation focused on a mechanical failure involving the main rotor. Three of the four rotor blades were found 165 feet (50 meters) away from the main wreckage, with the fourth landing 650 feet (200 meters) away. The helicopter's tail boom and upper part of its vertical fin showed multiple impact marks and punctures consistent with main rotor blade strikes sustained during separation. Part of the tail boom was discovered 135 feet (40 meters) from the main crash site.
Expert Analysis and Sequence of Events
Aviation safety expert John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, explained to The Associated Press that there was clearly a mechanical issue with the main rotor, though it remains uncertain whether the problem originated in the transmission or another part of the engine. “Something uncoupled the rotor system and it did it very quickly,” Cox said. “According to the report, it was uncommanded because it’s instantaneous and you never do that. So there’s a mechanical issue there.”
After the main rotor apparently struck the tail boom, the tail rotor became ineffective, leading to an uncontrolled spin. This coincided with the booming sounds and distress call over the radio. Cox noted that the helicopter was flying at a low altitude and slow speed, leaving little opportunity for recovery. Public flight-path data indicated the aircraft was circling back to the shootout scene when it slowed to almost a hover about 1,000 feet (300 meters) over a hilltop before crashing.
Background of the Shootout and Legal Proceedings
The helicopter had arrived to provide aerial support during a police response to a domestic violence call. Police allege that Terrell Storey, 50, shot at officers with a semiautomatic rifle and then moved from roof to roof in a residential neighborhood. Witnesses reported taking cover in their homes upon hearing gunfire.
Storey was arrested soon after the crash and initially hospitalized with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. He remains jailed at the Coconino County detention center. A grand jury indicted Storey on February 12 on two counts of first-degree felony murder and dozens of other offenses, including aggravated assault, burglary, disorderly conduct, and endangerment. Under Arizona law, suspects can be charged with felony murder if they cause a death “in the course of and in furtherance of” another crime.
The indictment names as victims the 25 law enforcement officers who responded and residents in the area. A not guilty plea was entered on Storey’s behalf during a February 23 arraignment, with the next hearing scheduled for April 16. Storey's attorney, public defender Jennifer Stock, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Profiles of the Victims
Pilot Robert Skankey was a longtime resident of Kingman, Arizona, and had worked for the Arizona Department of Public Safety since 2021. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was married with four children. Trooper paramedic Hunter Bennett was an honors graduate of Arizona State University and the top graduate of his 2023 Arizona Law Enforcement Academy class. He transferred to an air rescue unit in 2024 and had recently married his high school sweetheart.
The NTSB report did not draw final conclusions, with more definitive answers expected in a final report a year or more from now. Much of the helicopter's fuselage, including the cockpit and cabin, burned in the crash, complicating the investigation.
