# Accident 20250315005829A: Robinson R-44, Danville, VA, March 15, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 2025, 15:30 local time
- Place: Danville, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.6493° N, 79.4941° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6493&lon=-79.4941&mi=10
- Aircraft: N331ES, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N331ES) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-44
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25FA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250315005829A

## Narrative

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

ABOUT 1438, THE PILOT COMPLETED A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT AND DROPPED THE TWO PASSENGERS OFF AT THEIR HOME. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, THE PILOT ENDED THE FLIGHT EARLY DUE TO FOG WHICH RESTRICTED INFLIGHT VISIBILITY. THE PASSENGER PROVIDED A PHOTOGRAPH THAT WAS CAPTURED DURING THE SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT THAT SHOWED THE REPORTED FOG AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES.

AT 1439, THE PILOT SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO A FRIEND STATING THAT HE WAS EN ROUTE TO A RESTAURANT LOCATED ABOUT 12 MILES EAST FROM WHERE HE HAD DROPPED OFF THE PASSENGERS. AT 1446, THE PILOT AGAIN TEXTED HIS FRIEND AND WROTE THAT HE ENCOUNTERED FOG AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A CONVENIENCE STORE ABOUT 3.3 MILES NORTH OF THE PASSENGER DROP OFF LOCATION.

ACCORDING TO A WITNESS NEAR THE CONVENIENCE STORE, ABOUT 1455, THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF AND THEN “DISAPPEARED IN THE FOG”. THE WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT HE HEARD A SOUND CONSISTENT WITH THE HELICOPTER IMPACTING THE GROUND LESS THAN A MINUTE AFTER IT DISAPPEARED INTO THE FOG. ACCORDING TO VIDEO FOOTAGE PROVIDED BY A WITNESS, THE HELICOPTER MADE A SOUTHEASTERLY DEPARTURE FROM THE CONVENIENCE STORE.

THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED A RESIDENTIAL LOT AND A POSTIMPACT FIRE ENSUED. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTHEAST OF THE CONVENIENCE STORE. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE ON A NORTH HEADING.

ALL MAJOR HELICOPTER COMPONENTS WERE IDENTIFIED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. MOST OF THE CABIN STRUCTURE AND COWLINGS WERE CONSUMED BY POSTACCIDENT FIRE. THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT RETROFITTED WITH BLADDER TANKS, AND BOTH FUEL TANKS SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT THERMAL DAMAGE. THE FILLER CAPS REMAINED SECURE TO THEIR FILLER NECKS, AND BOTH FINGER SCREENS WERE CLEAR OF DEBRIS.

ON-SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE HELICOPTER. THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL WEATHER REPORTING LOCATION WAS FROM THE DANVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT, DANVILLE, VIRGINIA, LOCATED ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. AT 1453, THE AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVATION SYSTEM REPORTED WIND VARIABLE AT 3 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 6 MILES WITH MIST, AND THE OVERCAST CEILING AT 400 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. AN AIRMEN'S METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION (AIRMET) SIERRA FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS WAS ISSUED AT 1045 FOR CEILINGS BELOW 1,000 FT AND VISIBILITY BELOW 3 MILES WITH MIST AND FOG PRESENT. MULTIPLE WITNESSES REPORTED THE WEATHER AROUND THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS BEING “MURKY” OR FOGGY.

## 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 CEN25FA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA124), Mar 15, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N331ES), Danville, VA, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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