NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44

31 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R44, where the defining event was Loss of control in flight. 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

20082026
NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 per year, 2008–2026: 31 cases
20082
20091
20103
20112
20131
20141
20151
20161
20172
20184
20192
20202
20211
20222
20234
20242

Latest 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 ('7640120')
      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\" = '240'))
  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.

NTSB CEN24LA343Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Grand Forks, NDThe student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control which resulted in impact with the ground. Contributing to the outcome was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.Sep 6, 2024 · N896J · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA135Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Knox City, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a rollover and an impact with terrain.Mar 13, 2024 · N3040P · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA350Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Immokalee, FLThe flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot during hover flight, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the ground after the student pilot applied a sudden control input.Aug 26, 2023 · N4147Q · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA287Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Myrtle Beach, SCThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover taxi, which resulted in a rollover.Jul 4, 2023 · N7507X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA219Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Pontiac, MIThe flight crew’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with the ground.May 31, 2023 · N7102Z · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA130Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · De Kalb, TXThe pilot’s inability to maintain control of the helicopter due to his failure to maintain rotor speed. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the helicopter’s low rotor speed warning system.Mar 11, 2023 · N4164T · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA329Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 Clipper 1 · Deadhorse, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during a descent, which resulted in a collision with terrain.Aug 26, 2022 · N240RM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA151Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Rowlett, TXA loss of helicopter control while maneuvering, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom in flight, tail boom separation, and an uncontrolled descent.Mar 25, 2022 · N514CD · DestroyedNTSB CEN21LA184Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Johnson, KSThe pilot's inadequate pedal application during a transition to hover, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain.Apr 5, 2021 · N8348X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA095Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Morris, ILThe pilot's inadequate pedal application during liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain.Dec 20, 2020 · N3264U · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA084Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Colorado City, TXThe pilot’s loss of control and exceedance of performance and/or structural limitations during low-altitude operations, which resulted in an inflight breakup.. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment from the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol.Dec 10, 2020 · N7085Z · DestroyedNTSB ERA19LA287Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Sanford, METhe student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while hover-taxiing in gusting wind conditions.Sep 28, 2019 · N21EH · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA124Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Santa Maria Island, FLThe pilot's loss of helicopter control while maneuvering at a low altitude after being struck in the head by a bird.Jan 2, 2019 · N772MG · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA063Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Knox City, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed with a tailwind, which resulted in the helicopter settling with power, and his subsequent incorrect collective application while attempting to recover, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control due to a…Nov 18, 2018 · N4167Y · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA450Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Lantana, FLThe student pilot’s improper pitch control during landing, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.Jul 27, 2018 · N479AT · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA408Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Rulo, NEThe pilot's improper collective application, which resulted in low rotor rpm during the takeoff climb and a subsequent ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the operation.Jul 10, 2018 · N144DJ · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18FA077Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Newport Beach, CAThe pilot's failure to perform weight and balance calculations before departing on the flight, which resulted in his operation of the helicopter outside of its published weight and balance limitations and a subsequent loss of control shortly after takeoff.Jan 30, 2018 · N7530R · DestroyedNTSB WPR18LA031Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Page, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain pitch control of the helicopter while transitioning from a hover to forward flight.Nov 11, 2017 · N744BS · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA010Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Molokai, HIA descent and subsequent impact with open ocean waters for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.Oct 17, 2017 · N820DF · DestroyedNTSB GAA16CA279Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Las Vegas, NVThe pilot receiving instruction's incorrect action of interfering with the flight controls and failure to comply with the flight instructor's commands, which resulted in a loss of lateral bank control and a rollover.Jun 2, 2016 · N441JL · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA075Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · West Palm Beach, FLThe student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a horizontal rotation of the helicopter, and abnormal runway contact.Dec 9, 2015 · N4427H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14CA403Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Allen, NEThe pilot did not ensure sufficient obstacle clearance for potential wind conditions, which resulted in his loss of control of the helicopter.Jul 31, 2014 · N7194H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA448Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Capron, ILThe pilot's failure to maintain main rotor speed while maneuvering at low altitude during an agricultural application flight, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.Jul 28, 2013 · N9681R · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11LA648Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Ocate, NMThe pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat, which resulted in the formation of carburetor ice and a partial loss of engine power.Sep 15, 2011 · N828PM · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11LA380Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Lakewood, NJThe pilot’s inadequate yaw control of the helicopter while hovering.Jul 4, 2011 · N64JM · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10CA407Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Aguadilla, PRThe pilot's inadequate preflight performance calculations, which resulted in the overweight helicopter's lack of hover capability out of ground effect.Aug 8, 2010 · N367JM · Substantial damageNTSB ANC10LA053Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Unalaska, AKThe pilot's inappropriate low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with terrain.Jun 20, 2010 · N333DV · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10CA192Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Temecula, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff.Apr 6, 2010 · N688SS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09FA497Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Jackson, MSThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm, for undetermined reasons.Sep 1, 2009 · N33PX · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09LA051Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · San Juan, PRThe detachment of the forward left servo control tube upper rod end attachment bolt during a hover due to separation of its retaining nut for undetermined reasons.Nov 12, 2008 · N452JM · Substantial damageNTSB MIA08FA044Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Ochopee, FLThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident were a tailwind condition and the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision.Jan 22, 2008 · N18HB · Substantial damage