# Accident 20250630008439A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Tukwila, WA, June 30, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 30, 2025, 12:43 local time
- Place: Tukwila, WA
- Airport: Boeing Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.5266° N, 122.3015° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5266&lon=-122.3015&mi=10
- Aircraft: N23UP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23UP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R66 (registry code 7640130, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1 (registry code 54232, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300/A1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA199) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250630008439A

## Narrative

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

PIC WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A SAFETY PILOT (REQUIRED PER INSURANCE COMPANY).  ATCT VIDEO FOOTAGE SHOWED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE HELICOPTER FLEW VERY ERRATICALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET.  AT APPROXIMATELY A 30 FOOT ALTITUDE, THE HELICOPTER PITCHED TO A SEVERELY NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.  THE SAFETY PILOT TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND WAS ABLE TO LEVEL THE AIRCRAFT JUST BEFORE IT CONTACTED THE SURFACE.  THE ACCIDENT BENT BOTH LANDING SKIDS, BENT THE TAILBOOM, AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE SURFACE.

## 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 WPR25LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA199), Jun 30, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N23UP), Tukwila, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a takeoff to a hover in a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a subsequent hard landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.