# Settling with power/vortex ring state

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 244
- CICTT category: Loss Of Control (Inflight)
- Defining event in: 42 cases
- In the sequence of: 52 cases
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/cases.md
- Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244

## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence)

- 2008: 2 / 4
- 2009: 2 / 2
- 2010: 4 / 4
- 2011: 4 / 5
- 2012: 5 / 5
- 2013: 3 / 3
- 2014: 5 / 6
- 2015: 3 / 3
- 2016: 1 / 2
- 2017: 1 / 2
- 2018: 1 / 2
- 2019: 3 / 3
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2021: 2 / 2
- 2022: 1 / 2
- 2024: 2 / 3
- 2025: 1 / 1
- 2026: 0 / 1

## Phase of flight

- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 12 cases
- Approach: 6 cases
- Maneuvering-hover: 6 cases
- Landing: 5 cases
- Takeoff: 5 cases
- Maneuvering: 4 cases
- Landing-flare/touchdown: 2 cases
- Approach-VFR pattern final: 1 cases
- Initial climb: 1 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 28 cases
- [Descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037) (Aircraft): 13 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 2 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 6 cases
- [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4): 3 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 3 cases
- [Eurocopter France AS350B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-france-as350b2): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 BA](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-ba): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2-ecureuil): 1 cases
- [Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-365-n2-dauphin): 1 cases
- [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar): 1 cases
- [Sikorsky S-76B](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76b): 1 cases
- [Sikorsky S-55B](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-55b): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ANC25LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA099), Aug 29, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N74435), Petersville, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA24LA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA327), Jul 27, 2024: Enstrom 280FX (N280D), Russellville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain sufficient rotor rpm while maneuvering the helicopter low to the ground, which resulted in a loss of control.
- [NTSB ERA24LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA287), Jun 27, 2024: Airbus Helicopters AS350 (N174SC), Sanford, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter pilot’s improper maneuvering at low altitude in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the helicopter entering a vortex ring state, and hard landing during a subsequent autorotation.
- [NTSB WPR23LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA061), Dec 8, 2022: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (N130WS), Waimea, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of helicopter control on approach to land due to entering a vortex ring state condition, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA033), Nov 10, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N7198A), Freer, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with ‘settling with power’ while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in a rapid descent and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR21LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA236), Jun 15, 2021: Bell UH-1H (N398M), Townsend, MT, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after an encounter with settling with power during approach at an altitude that was too low for recovery, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA21LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA040), Nov 8, 2020: Bell 206 (N123NC), Raleigh, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom, and impact with the ground.
- [NTSB ERA20LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA273), Aug 3, 2020: Eurocopter EC130 (N55GJ), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's entry into vortex ring state and his inability to arrest the helicopter's descent while maneuvering for landing.
- [NTSB GAA19CA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA345), Jun 10, 2019: S M & T UH (N64771), Northway, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing, which resulted in impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA19WA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19WA167), Apr 30, 2019: Bell 206 (HK3321), Sabanalarga, Colombia, substantial damage

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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