# Accident 20250227001329A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Edgemont, SD, February 27, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 2025, 07:30 local time
- Place: Edgemont, SD
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.3512° N, 103.7477° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3512&lon=-103.7477&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6555C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6555C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250227001329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 2/27/25 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30AM MT, A ROBINSON R-44 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, LLC WAS CONDUCTING AN ELK SURVEY/CAPTURE OPERATION WHEN THE GUNNER FELL FROM THE HELICOPTER AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 30 TO 40 FT AND A FORWARD AIRSPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH. THE GUNNER IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SUSTAINED CRITICAL INJURIES. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE ROTORCRAFT WAS SEPARATION OF A VERTICAL SUPPORT TUBE ATTACHED TO TWO HORIZONTAL SUPPORT TUBES BEHIND THE PILOT AND CO-PILOT STATIONS. THE PILOT HOLDS A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING AN ELK CAPTURE SURVEYING FLIGHT, THE NON-FLIGHT CREWMEMBER FELL OUT OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE MANEUVERING ABOUT 30 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. POST-FLIGHT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE ANCHOR POINT USED TO SECURE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM TO THE HELICOPTER HAD SEPARATED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN25LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA105), Feb 27, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N6555C), Edgemont, SD, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly identify the proper anchor point for the supplemental harness and the crew’s incorrect use of the restraint system structure as an anchor point, which resulted in the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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