# NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II: Attempted remediation/recovery

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA168.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Mount Blanco, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 17, 2026 · N445JS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain proper main rotor rpm during a low-level turn, which resulted in the main rotor rpm drooping, a loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery, and a subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN25LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA073.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Buras, LA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 8, 2025 · N430JM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control during a hover taxi with a quartering tailwind.
- [NTSB CEN23LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA326.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Charles City, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2023 · N4174L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper preflight of the helicopter to ensure that it was within the loading and performance limitations that resulted in settling and impact with terrain during initial climb.
- [NTSB CEN23FA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA125.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Port O'Connor, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 7, 2023 · N494SH · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s initiation of the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of helicopter control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s flicker vertigo during the flight.
- [NTSB CEN22LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA034.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Fort Davis, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 10, 2021 · N3027W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s encounter of a downdraft from which there was insufficient altitude to recover.
- [NTSB WPR21LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA359.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 30, 2021 · N74706 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN21LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA173.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Dustin, OK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 26, 2021 · N178DF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s insufficient monitoring of the helicopter’s power while flying at low altitude and at low airspeed, which resulted in the loss of rotor rpm and impact with a tree and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN20LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA330.md): Robinson R44 · Logan, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 8, 2020 · N89LA · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the lower actuator bearing support brackets, which resulted in the misalignment of the clutch actuator, a loss of belt tension on the main rotor drive system, and a subsequent forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN20CA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA085.md): Robinson R44 · Marfa, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 14, 2020 · N441KA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence during low-altitude maneuvering.
- [NTSB CEN19LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA250.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Lyons, NE · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 3, 2019 · N440EM · Substantial damage
  > The engine's low cylinder compression, which resulted in low rotor rpm and a subsequent dynamic rollover following landing on soft terrain.
- [NTSB GAA18CA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA430.md): Robinson R44 · Okawville, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 9, 2018 · N944DC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper preflight weight and balance calculation, which resulted in his operating the helicopter over its maximum gross takeoff weight and in its subsequent failure to climb.
- [NTSB ERA18LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA161.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Fort Morgan, AL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2018 · N755KT · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examinations did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB GAA18CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA066.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · New Orleans, LA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 29, 2017 · N744WT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to land the helicopter with both skids on the trailer platform, which resulted in a loss of control.
- [NTSB GAA17CA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA401.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Paoli, IN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 7, 2017 · N3203D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to maneuver an overgross weight helicopter at a low altitude and airspeed with a gusting tailwind, which resulted in a high descent rate and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to…
- [NTSB GAA17CA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA398.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Pocahontas, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 7, 2017 · N62FA · Substantial damage
  > The helicopter pilot’s miscommunication with the ground crewmember during reloading operations, which resulted in a takeoff with the filler hose attached to the helicopter and subsequent impact with a truck.
- [NTSB WPR17LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA143.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Ronan, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 6, 2017 · N442DR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during a low-altitude orbiting maneuver and a subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR17LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA140.md): Robinson R44 · Bella Vista, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 2017 · N488AS · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power during low-altitude maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have…
- [NTSB WPR17LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA043.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Mt. Baldy, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 29, 2016 · N324RS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor speed during a low orbiting approach over a confined mountainous area. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to attempt to land in an area that did not allow for a safe exit path under conditions near…
- [NTSB CEN16LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA039.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Alpine, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 13, 2015 · N449MC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor speed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a descent from which he was unable to recover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct the flight at or near the helicopter's…
- [NTSB GAA16CA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA006.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Devine, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 5, 2015 · N174CD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the takeoff, which resulted in the helicopter striking power lines.
- [NTSB GAA15CA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA232.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Prairie Lea, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 16, 2015 · N804DF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision with trees.
- [NTSB CEN15LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA231.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Columbia, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 13, 2015 · N165RV · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.
- [NTSB ERA15CA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA089.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Barranquitas, PR · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 2, 2015 · N3183T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while landing which resulted in a tailrotor ground strike and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN14LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA197.md): Robinson R44 - II · Menard, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 23, 2014 · N44MD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in an improper touchdown attitude and collision with terrain.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7640122', '7640123')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '060' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence?model=7640122

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