# Accident 20260324003489A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Fredericksburg, TX, March 24, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2026, 10:31 local time
- Place: Fredericksburg, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.1239° N, 98.7160° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1239&lon=-98.7160&mi=10
- Aircraft: N233JD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N233JD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,829 total, 479 in this make and model, 136 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260324003489A

## Narrative

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

ON 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 ANOMALIES OBSERVED. DURING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION OF WILDLIFE, WHILE HOVERING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE TREE LINE, A SUDDEN LOUD “POP” OCCURRED, FOLLOWED BY A NOTICEABLE JOLT. THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE PILOT INDICATED THE ANTI-TORQUE PEDALS WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE PILOT, PASSENGER, AND A WITNESS ALL REPORTED HEARING THE INITIAL “POP,” AFTER WHICH ENGINE NOISE DIMINISHED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LOW RPM AURAL TONE CAME ON SHORTYLY AFTER THE POP SOUND. DURING THIS, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STATED THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY AND YAWED RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM, TAILBOOM, AND TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM.

## 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 CEN26LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA148), Mar 24, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N233JD), Stonewall, TX, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N233JD (1)

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

- [Accident 20170724010259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170724010259A), Jul 24, 2017: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N233JD), White Sulphur S, MT, Substantial damage. 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…

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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