NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II

9 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R44 II, where the defining event was Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT). 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.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

20102026

NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II per year, 2010–2026: 9 cases
2010	3
2012	1
2013	1
2015	1
2017	1
2020	2

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with 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' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '120')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

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' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '120'))
  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' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '120'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run 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 CEN20LA136Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Audubon, IAThe pilot’s failure to recognize and avoid the power line during the low-altitude flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue, which affected the pilot’s ability to see and avoid the power line.Mar 31, 2020 · N107EH · Destroyed NTSB ANC20CA023Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Talkeetna, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from snow covered terrain during an en route descent in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Feb 21, 2020 · N716JL · Substantial damage NTSB GAA17CA279Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Vevay, INThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines during an agricultural application flight due to distraction when reading a map.May 10, 2017 · N428JG · Substantial damage NTSB GAA15CA196Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Forest City, SDThe pilot's failure to monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance during takeoff, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires.Jul 2, 2015 · N824DK · Substantial damage NTSB CEN13FA295Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Cross Timbers, MOThe pilot's failure to see and avoid a power line during the low-altitude flight.May 24, 2013 · N569BC · Destroyed NTSB WPR13CA064Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Roosevelt Lake, AZThe pilot's visual disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the lake.Dec 7, 2012 · N557AC · Substantial damage NTSB CEN10LA556Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Duluth, MNThe pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent due to spatial disorientation.Sep 17, 2010 · N145DM · Destroyed NTSB ERA10FA403Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Blairsville, GAThe non-instrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Aug 2, 2010 · N34JS · Substantial damage NTSB ERA10WA133Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Restauracion, Dominican Republic, Dominican RepublicOn February 4, 2010, about 1940 Atlantic standard time, a Robinson R44II helicopter, N7535F, impacted the side of Mount Jina Mocha, in the city of Restauracion, Dominican Republic, at night, while en route from Port Au Prince, Haiti to Cibao International…Feb 4, 2010 · N7535F · Destroyed