# NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44: Hard landing

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 ERA26LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA048.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Cookeville, TN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2025 · N668TM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate decent rate during approach, resulting in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR25LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA203.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Park City, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 6, 2025 · N715SG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during an approach to landing in a mountainous area, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN24LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA004.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Hochatown, OK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 1, 2023 · N379SH · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation due to the improper engine idle setting and rigging of the carburetor heat control which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA404](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA404.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Beardsley, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 30, 2022 · N7048C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach to land that resulted in an excessive descent rate and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA168.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Myrtle Beach, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 26, 2022 · N288L · Substantial damage
  > Vibration in the airframe and flight controls for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB CEN20CA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA316.md): Robinson R44 · Hebron, NE · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 27, 2020 · N771GB · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight to sump the fuel tanks prior to flight.
- [NTSB CEN19LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA230.md): Robinson R44 · Ida Grove, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 21, 2019 · N459TA · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during an aerial application flight for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB WPR19LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA013.md): Robinson R44 · Kaneohe, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 23, 2018 · N4132H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s sudden incapacitation from an undiagnosed heart condition during flight, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB GAA18CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA072.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Fort Pierce, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 5, 2017 · N99RW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a tail strike and hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA17LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA257.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Myrtle Beach, SC · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2017 · N828RD · Substantial damage
  > A loss of available power to the main rotor due to a fractured exhaust pushrod and housing, which allowed engine oil to coat the V-belts. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the tour and his failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm…
- [NTSB WPR17LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA097.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Santa Barbara, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2017 · N981RR · Destroyed
  > A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of an engine piston rod for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive damage.
- [NTSB GAA17CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA095.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Separ, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 15, 2016 · N835AK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s abrupt maneuver to avoid electrical wires during the approach, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA16LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA216.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Chatham, MA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 2016 · N141TM · Substantial damage
  > The inadequate maintenance of the lower forward clutch actuator bearing for a prolonged period of time, which resulted in a bearing failure. Contributing to the accident was an erroneous maintenance entry, which resulted in the helicopter being operated…
- [NTSB ERA11LA380](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA380.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Lakewood, NJ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 4, 2011 · N64JM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate yaw control of the helicopter while hovering.
- [NTSB WPR11CA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA121.md): Robinson R44 · Ogden, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 4, 2011 · N441TB · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor blade rpm during a practice autorotation, resulting in a hard landing and rollover.
- [NTSB ANC09GA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09GA040.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Iliamna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Final report · May 12, 2009 · N7196H · Substantial damage
  > The main rotor transmission mount design, which resulted in an in-flight vibration/oscillation, and damage to the helicopter during an emergency descent and hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of information from the manufacturer regarding…

## 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 ('7640120')
    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" = '092' 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/092/sequence?model=7640120

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