NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II

16 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 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

20082026
NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II per year, 2008–2026: 16 cases
20081
20101
20122
20131
20141
20151
20161
20172
20201
20212
20222
20241

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\" = '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 ERA24LA118Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Miami, FLTail rotor contact with an unseen object while performing a precautionary landing to a closed helipad at night.Feb 1, 2024 · N521LS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA188Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Calhoun, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from wires during takeoff.Apr 12, 2022 · N426DB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA135Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · White Plains, NYThe pilot’s failure to maintain stabilized lateral control during landing in gusty conditions which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the skids contacted the platform unevenly.Feb 17, 2022 · N929WA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA341Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Camp Verde, AZThe pilot's inadequate preflight performance calculations which resulted in an aborted takeoff and collision with trees.Aug 28, 2021 · N544SH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA173Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Dustin, OKThe pilot’s insufficient monitoring of the helicopter’s power while flying at low altitude and at low airspeed, which resulted in the loss of rotor rpm and impact with a tree and terrain.Mar 26, 2021 · N178DF · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Aug 8, 2020 · N89LA · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA450Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Dunlap, ILThe pilot’s failure to visually confirm that the helicopter was disconnected from hoses during refueling operations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s and ground crew’s misunderstanding of the hand signals.Jul 31, 2017 · N344MM · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA383Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Easton, PAThe pilot’s distraction during liftoff due to the tail rotor chip warning light illuminating, which resulted in the helicopter drifting right, the skid touching down, and a dynamic roll-over.Jul 4, 2017 · N3025J · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16FA215Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Jonesboro, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to his combined use of alcohol and diphenhydramine, which led to his improper decision to fly after drinking alcohol and degraded…Jun 12, 2016 · N789MR · DestroyedNTSB GAA16CA006Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Devine, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the takeoff, which resulted in the helicopter striking power lines.Oct 5, 2015 · N174CD · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14FA115Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Panacea, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during a takeoff at night. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent night flight experience.Feb 9, 2014 · N571AC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13CA424Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 - II · Flagstaff, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm while landing in a gusty wind at a high density altitude.Sep 25, 2013 · N190SH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12LA443Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Red Oak, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground-support vehicle during landing.Jul 14, 2012 · N556MM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12LA359Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Santa Teresa, NMThe sudden decrease in headwind during takeoff in a gusty wind and near a passing train, which resulted in a loss of lift and main rotor rpm. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the helicopter near its maximum performance…Jun 10, 2012 · N744JS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA126Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Hemphill, TXThe student pilot’s improper decision to carry an unauthorized passenger and the passenger’s loss of control of the helicopter during take-off.Dec 22, 2010 · N841SA · Substantial damageNTSB DFW08LA122Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Bartlett, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from terrain (embankment) during takeoff.Apr 28, 2008 · N477SH · Substantial damage