20170724010259A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · White Sulphur S, MT · July 24, 2017

Date: July 24, 2017 · 19:30 local
Place: White Sulphur S, MT
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N233JD
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR17LA168
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,295 total730 in this make and model87 in the last 90 days

N233JDRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 10300 · Built 2004 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 24, 2017, at 1930 MDT, a Robinson R44, N233JD, lost power and autorotated into sutherlin reservoir, White Sulphur springs, Montana, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological

Conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The

Aircraft was substantially damaged, and the ATP pilot was not injured. The flight originated at White Sulphur springs, Montana, on July 24, 2017, at 1915 MDT.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 24, 2017, AT 1930 MDT, A ROBINSON R44, N233JD, LOST POWER AND AUTOROTATED INTO SUTHERLIN RESERVOIR, WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, MONTANA, WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL

CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE

AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE ATP PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, MONTANA, ON JULY 24, 2017, AT 1915 MDT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR17LA168Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLake Sutherlin, MTThe pilot’s transition into an out-of-ground-effect hover in high-density altitude conditions that exceeded the helicopter’s performance capabilities, which resulted in loss of rotor rpm.Jul 25, 2017 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N233JD · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20260324003489AHover/Holding · Fredericksburg, TXOn March 24, 2026, at approximately 0930 local time, a Robinson R44 ii helicopter was substantially damaged during an accident that occurred on a private ranch near Fredericksburg, Texas. According to the pilot, a preflight inspection was completed with no…Mar 24, 2026 · Substantial damage