NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II

9 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R44 II, where the sequence of events included Loss of tail rotor effectiveness. 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 II per year, 2008–2026: 9 cases
20082
20131
20142
20152
20172

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 ('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\" = '242' 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.

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.Jul 6, 2017 · N442DR · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17LA168Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Newton, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during out-of-ground-effect maneuvering at a low airspeed with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.Apr 27, 2017 · N728CB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15LA375Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Carlos, TXThe pilot’s improper decision to turn the helicopter toward a tailwind during an out-of-ground-effect hover, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Contributing to the accident was the accident and lead pilots’ inadequate preflight risk…Aug 22, 2015 · N445HS · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jan 2, 2015 · N3183T · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14CA325Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Honolulu, HIThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control during taxi, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and subsequent impact with the taxiway and a parked fuel truck.Aug 2, 2014 · N110JC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14CA142Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Bonham, TXThe pilot's inadequate recovery from a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during a low altitude downwind hover in a gusty wind condition resulting in the helicopter contacting the ground and rolling over.Feb 14, 2014 · N494SH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13FA343Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Thompson Falls, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while operating in conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.Jul 27, 2013 · N25WH · Substantial damageNTSB NYC08CA305Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 II · Marathon, FLThe pilot's failure to control the helicopter while maneuvering, resulting in loss of tail rotor effectiveness.Sep 6, 2008 · N144SA · Substantial damageNTSB DFW08CA177Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 II · Canyon Lake, TXA total loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to operate inside the height velocity curve.Jul 5, 2008 · N804DF · Substantial damage