NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44

10 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R44, where the sequence of events included Collision during takeoff/land. 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

20092026
NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 per year, 2009–2026: 10 cases
20091
20121
20141
20152
20203
20241
20261

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' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s.\"tier2Number\" = '490' 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 ANC26LA082Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openRobinson Helicopter R44 · Macedonia, IAAug 9, 2026 · N197HL · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA067Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Galveston, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during the takeoff from the helipad in high and gusting wind conditions, that resulted in the right skid extension embedding in the artificial turf, and a subsequent dynamic rollover sequence.Dec 31, 2024 · N441HQ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA313Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Dakota, ILThe pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a ground obstacle during a landing.Jul 27, 2020 · N570WH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20CA260Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Whitehall, MDThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a known obstacle while landing from a hover.Jul 24, 2020 · N350DM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA286Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Welsh, LAA partial loss of engine power while in flight due to corrosion of engine components, which resulted in a loss of control and a subsequent impact with terrain.Jul 2, 2020 · N7511D · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16LA006Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Parkston, SDThe pilot’s decision to take off from a confined area and his failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during the takeoff, which resulted in collision with obstacles.Oct 5, 2015 · N442RP · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA227Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Sandusky, MIThe pilot's failure to monitor the landing environment while operating in a confined off-airport site resulting in a wire strike and substantial damage to the helicopter.Jul 15, 2015 · N8337Z · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14CA413Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Hayesville, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, and adequate clearance, which resulted in a collision with a hangar.Aug 17, 2014 · N752EC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13CA022Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Loop, TXThe pilot’s inadequate performance calculations, which resulted in an overweight takeoff for the conditions and the subsequent hard impact with terrain.Oct 21, 2012 · N7507K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10CA193Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · San Juan Batista, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from wires while maneuvering and his subsequent improper use of the collective control, which resulted in the main rotor contacting the tail boom.Oct 29, 2009 · N144RF · Substantial damage