NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
24 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R44 II, where the sequence of events included Attempted remediation/recovery. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.
Cases per year
| 2014 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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"Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
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" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB CEN26LA168Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Mount Blanco, TXThe 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 CEN25LA073Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Buras, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control during a hover taxi with a quartering tailwind.NTSB CEN23LA326Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Charles City, IAThe 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 CEN23FA125Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Port O'Connor, TXThe 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 CEN22LA034Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Fort Davis, TXThe pilot’s encounter of a downdraft from which there was insufficient altitude to recover.NTSB WPR21LA359Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Phoenix, AZThe student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn which resulted in a hard landing.NTSB CEN21LA173Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Dustin, OKThe 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 CEN20LA330Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Logan, IAThe 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 CEN20CA085Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Marfa, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence during low-altitude maneuvering.NTSB CEN19LA250Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Lyons, NEThe engine's low cylinder compression, which resulted in low rotor rpm and a subsequent dynamic rollover following landing on soft terrain.NTSB GAA18CA430Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Okawville, ILThe 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 ERA18LA161Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Fort Morgan, ALA 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 GAA18CA066Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · New Orleans, LAThe pilot’s failure to land the helicopter with both skids on the trailer platform, which resulted in a loss of control.NTSB GAA17CA401Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Paoli, INThe 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 GAA17CA398Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Pocahontas, ILThe 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 WPR17LA143Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Ronan, MTThe 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 WPR17LA140Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Bella Vista, CAA 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 WPR17LA043Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Mt. Baldy, CAThe 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 CEN16LA039Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Alpine, TXThe 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 GAA16CA006Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Devine, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the takeoff, which resulted in the helicopter striking power lines.NTSB GAA15CA232Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Prairie Lea, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision with trees.NTSB CEN15LA231Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Columbia, ILA total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.NTSB ERA15CA089Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Barranquitas, PRThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while landing which resulted in a tailrotor ground strike and collision with terrain.NTSB CEN14LA197Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 - II · Menard, TXThe pilot’s inadequate recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in an improper touchdown attitude and collision with terrain.