Senior Editor

Jerry Siebenmark

SpaceX lost a Crew Dragon spacecraft test article this week during a planned parachute drop test from a heavy-lift helicopter, according to a statement from the Hawthorne, California-based company. The incident occurred Tuesday when the test article, which was suspended underneath an Erickson S-64 Air Crane being operated by Helicopter Transport Services (HTS), became “unstable.”

 


“Out of an abundance of caution and to keep the helicopter crew safe, the pilot pulled the emergency release,” the statement said. Because the helicopter and test article were not at the specified drop zone, the test article was not armed to deploy its parachute system, which is intended to safely return to earth the Crew Dragon and its human crew from a space mission. As a result, the test article was destroyed.

 


“While the test article was lost, this was not a failure of the parachute system and most importantly no one was injured,” SpaceX said in its statement. It is working together with NASA to determine the testing program going forward. The program is expected to lead to Crew Dragon’s second demonstration mission. Crew Dragon is SpaceX’s next-generation spacecraft designed to carry humans to the International Space Station and other destinations.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

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2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

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More In Accidents

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

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Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair

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Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

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Captain opted out of instrument approach over autopilot concerns

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NTSB: Ignition source could not be conclusively identified

NTSB: Bell 206L Damage Caused by Aeroelastic Interaction

Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure

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