# Accident 20250906012849A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Lakeville, MN, September 6, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 2025, 14:42 local time
- Place: Lakeville, MN
- Airport: Airlake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6325° N, 93.2389° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6325&lon=-93.2389&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6633L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6633L) (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: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,174 total, 40 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25FA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA367) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250906012849A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REFUELED WITH A 25-GALLON TOP-OFF BEFORE THE FLIGHTS FOR THE DAY. THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING BACK TO ITS ORIGINATING AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT CHOSE AN ENROUTE AIRPORT AS A LOCATION TO LAND TO LET A WEATHER SYSTEM PASS. THREE HUNDRED FEET INTO THE HELICOPTER’S DESCENT TO THE AIRPORT THROUGH CLOUDY IFR CONDITIONS, THE AIRCRAFT BANKED RIGHT AND ACCELERATED DOWNWARD IN A CLOCKWISE ROTATION, ALTERING ITS COURSE FROM APPROXIMATELY 130 DEGREES TO 40 DEGREES.  THE AIRCRAFT’S MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND AT THE EDGE OF A CORNFIELD, BREAKING APART AND SENDING BLADE SPAR AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AS FAR AS 1,000 FEET TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT UPON CRASHING^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE COCKPIT AS THE FUSELAGE HIT THE GROUND NOSE-FIRST, ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE AND SLID ACROSS ONE SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS, AND COMING TO REST AGAINST A PARKED TRAIN CAR. A FIRE DEVELOPED THAT CONSUMED THE FUSELAGE BUT SPARED THE ENGINE, ROTOR MAST, TAIL BOOM, AND TAIL ROTOR. INVESTIGATORS FROM ROBINSON AND ROLLS-ROYCE FOUND NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS EVIDENT PRIOR TO THE CRASH PERTAINING TO THE SURVIVING TURBINE ENGINE, MAST ASSEMBLY, TAIL BOOM, OR TAIL ROTOR.

## 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 CEN25FA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA367), Sep 6, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N6633L), Lakeville, MN, destroyed, 2 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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