# NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44, TX

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN25LA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA389.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Decatur, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 19, 2025 · N831VA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control during an off-airport, pinnacle landing, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the instructional flight.
- [NTSB CEN25LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA067.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Galveston, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 31, 2024 · N441HQ · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN24LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA135.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Knox City, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 13, 2024 · N3040P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a rollover and an impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN24LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA027.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Rowlett, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 26, 2023 · N141CD · Substantial damage
  > A malfunction of the helicopter’s Engine Monitoring Unit (EMU)/Governor Controller for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s failure to turn off the EMU/Governor Controller per the emergency checklist when the…
- [NTSB CEN23LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA130.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · De Kalb, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 11, 2023 · N4164T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the helicopter due to his failure to maintain rotor speed. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the helicopter’s low rotor speed warning system.
- [NTSB CEN23LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA086.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Fowlerton, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 10, 2023 · N811S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with trees, which resulted in an uncontrollable spin due to tail rotor damage.
- [NTSB CEN22LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA234.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Henderson, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 6, 2022 · N94WC · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power in a hover due to a stuck exhaust valve.
- [NTSB CEN22FA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA151.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Rowlett, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 25, 2022 · N514CD · Destroyed
  > A loss of helicopter control while maneuvering, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom in flight, tail boom separation, and an uncontrolled descent.
- [NTSB CEN21LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA155.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Dunn, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 26, 2021 · N7184N · Substantial damage
  > The loss of rotor RPM for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
- [NTSB CEN21LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA084.md): Robinson R44 · Colorado City, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 10, 2020 · N7085Z · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of control and exceedance of performance and/or structural limitations during low-altitude operations, which resulted in an inflight breakup.. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment from the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol.
- [NTSB GAA19CA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA063.md): Robinson R44 · Knox City, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 18, 2018 · N4167Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed with a tailwind, which resulted in the helicopter settling with power, and his subsequent incorrect collective application while attempting to recover, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control due to a…
- [NTSB GAA18CA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA247.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Sonora, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 18, 2018 · N4487D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.
- [NTSB GAA16CA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA283.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Spring Branch, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 28, 2016 · N921ES · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering in gusting tailwind conditions, resulting in the tailboom striking a light pole and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN15CA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA025.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Harper, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 24, 2014 · N7192K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering.
- [NTSB CEN14CA500](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA500.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Beaumont, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 15, 2014 · N9844N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss tail rotor effectiveness while attempting a taxiway side-step during landing. Contributing to the accident was another pilot's failure to ensure the runway was clear before occupying the runway for takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN13CA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA022.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Loop, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 21, 2012 · N7507K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate performance calculations, which resulted in an overweight takeoff for the conditions and the subsequent hard impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN12LA669](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA669.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Nocona, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2012 · N8341W · Substantial damage
  > The noncertificated pilot’s operation of the helicopter, which resulted in impact with the water.
- [NTSB CEN11CA627](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA627.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Batesville, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 26, 2011 · N99FJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that failed to ensure all tie-down clamps were removed prior to takeoff, which resulted in the helicopter’s dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB DFW08LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA020.md): Robinson R-44 · Catarina, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 24, 2007 · N744RG · Substantial damage
  > The loss of control due to the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with trees while hovering. A contributing factor was the low altitude.
- [NTSB DFW06LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA141.md): Robinson R44 · Payne Springs, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 28, 2006 · N42KJ · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB DFW05CA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA220.md): Robinson R-44 · Odessa, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 23, 2005 · N160TX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor RPM and the improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB FTW02LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA268.md): Robinson R44 · Del Rio, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 29, 2002 · N952LC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. A contributing factor was the reported gusting wind conditions.
- [NTSB FTW02LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA197.md): Robinson R44 · Houston, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2002 · N144WT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of control after encountering dynamic rollover during takeoff. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'TX' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7640120'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7640120&state=TX

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