NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
26 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R44 II, where the sequence of events included Off-field or emergency landing. 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
| 2008 | 3 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Where
Open the mapLatest 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\" = '440' 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.
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" = '440' 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" DESCRun 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 CEN26LA276Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Bennett, IAOn August 2, 2026, about 1318 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II helicopter, N26KL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bennett, Iowa. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14…NTSB CEN26LA168Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Mount Blanco, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain proper main rotor rpm during a low-level turn, which resulted in the main rotor rpm drooping, a loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery, and a subsequent impact with terrain.NTSB WPR25LA034Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Durkee, ORThe pilot's inadequate performance planning, which resulted in insufficient engine power to transition into an out-of-ground-effect hover at a high gross weight.NTSB ANC24LA013Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Glacier View, AKA sudden stoppage of the tail rotor for unknown reasons, which resulted in the tortional overload failure of the tail rotor driveshaft.NTSB CEN20LA330Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Logan, IAThe failure of the lower actuator bearing support brackets, which resulted in the misalignment of the clutch actuator, a loss of belt tension on the main rotor drive system, and a subsequent forced landing.NTSB CEN19LA065Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Uvalde, TXThe slipping of the sprag clutch due to galling of the sprags and corresponding sprag contact surfaces within the clutch assembly, which rendered the helicopter uncontrollable.NTSB ANC18LA058Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Bettles, AKMaintenance personnel's application of insufficient preload on the attachment hardware for the idler gear shaft during engine overhaul, which resulted in the dismounting of the idler gear shaft assembly due to wear and deformation and the subsequent total…NTSB ERA18LA161Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Fort Morgan, ALA partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examinations did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.NTSB WPR18LA133Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Borrego Springs, CAThe loss of the helicopter’s drive system for reasons that could not be determined from the available evidence, which led to an autorotation that resulted in a hard landing and rollover on uneven sandy terrain.NTSB GAA18CA140Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Woodland, CAThe pilot’s distraction due to her malfunctioning iPad, which led to her inadvertent forward cyclic application.NTSB WPR17LA168Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Lake Sutherlin, MTThe pilot’s transition into an out-of-ground-effect hover in high-density altitude conditions that exceeded the helicopter’s performance capabilities, which resulted in loss of rotor rpm.NTSB WPR17LA159Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Van Nuys, CAAn improper repair of the right magneto's tachometer and governor signal wire, which failed during cruise flight and initiated a simultaneous malfunction of both the engine tachometer and governor control system, which resulted in erroneous and contradictory…NTSB WPR17LA140Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Bella Vista, CAA partial loss of engine power during low-altitude maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have…NTSB ERA17LA163Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Orlando, FLA partial failure of the helicopter's engine tachometer due to the separation of one of the magnet assemblies and engine roughness, which precipitated the pilot’s initiation of an off-airport autorotation, during which he applied improper aft cyclic flight…NTSB GAA16CA297Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Chireno, TXThe student pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the helicopter rolling over during landing, and substantial damage to the tail boom.NTSB CEN15LA231Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Columbia, ILA total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.NTSB ERA14LA311Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Nashville, TNThe pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during an autorotation after a perceived partial loss of power, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was radio frequency interference with the governor controller, which resulted in an…NTSB WPR13FA264Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Los Angeles, CAThe pilot’s loss of helicopter control following a precautionary landing, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.NTSB CEN13LA228Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Buffalo, SDThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while maneuvering at a low altitude in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an emergency landing on uneven terrain.NTSB CEN13LA194Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Eagle Nest, NMA total loss of engine power due to a rapid throttle change during autorotation, which the flight instructor initiated in response to a low rotor rpm warning, which resulted from the separation of one of the magnets used to provide rotor rpm indications from…NTSB CEN13CA124Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Menard, TXThe helicopter landed hard during a forced landing.NTSB WPR10LA458Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Mammoth, CADynamic rollover of the helicopter during a precautionary landing.NTSB WPR09LA460Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Valley Center, CAThe failure of the engine’s camshaft due to fatigue of unknown origin.NTSB LAX08LA183Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 II · Topanga, CAThe in-flight separation of the tail rotor gear box for an undetermined reason. Contributing to the accident was the hilly terrain, which was unsuitable for a forced landing.NTSB DFW08TA092Accident · No injuriesFinal reportRobinson R44 · Topeka, KSA malfunctioning magneto, resulting in a high engine rpm and low rotor warning indications. A contributing factor was the impact with a light pole, during the precautionary landing.NTSB NYC08CA083Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 II · Fenner, NYThe pilot's delayed decision to perform a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility in snow and the soft terrain.