# NTSB investigations: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, AK

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 ANC25LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA099.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Petersville, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 29, 2025 · N74435 · Substantial damage
  > 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 ANC25LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA064.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 30, 2025 · N531AT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC24LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA079.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 18, 2024 · N783AK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to follow the operator’s procedure manual and attempted to land at a remote landing zone in high wind conditions. Contributing factor was the pilot’s decision to not conduct a fly over of the landing site to determine wind condition which…
- [NTSB ANC24LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA013.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Glacier View, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 11, 2024 · N74868 · Substantial damage
  > A sudden stoppage of the tail rotor for unknown reasons, which resulted in the tortional overload failure of the tail rotor driveshaft.
- [NTSB ANC23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA032.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Skwentna, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 9, 2023 · N704T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain while maneuvering in adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB WPR22LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA299.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 11, 2022 · N987WH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during an off-field landing, which resulted in loss of control and an impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC22LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA001.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 10, 2021 · N555EL · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > The unmanned aircraft pilot’s failure to yield the right of way to the helicopter.
- [NTSB ANC21LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA080.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Pelican, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 31, 2021 · N779DZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control while landing on a remote helipad.
- [NTSB ANC21LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA079.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Pelican, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 30, 2021 · N878CB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper preflight planning to ensure adequate power to hover out-of-ground effect while conducting external load operations.
- [NTSB ANC20CA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA068.md): Robinson R44 · Ketchikan, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 10, 2020 · N878CB · Substantial damage
  > The crew leader's decision to throw a chainsaw bar into the moving arc of the main rotor blade.
- [NTSB ANC20CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA023.md): Robinson R44 · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Feb 21, 2020 · N716JL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from snow covered terrain during an en route descent in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB GAA19CA531](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA531.md): Robinson R44 · Nuiqsut, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 6, 2019 · N447PA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to land downwind from unsecured debris, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor disk ingesting foreign objects.
- [NTSB GAA18CA534](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA534.md): Robinson R44 · Girdwood, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 30, 2018 · N99645 · Substantial damage
  > The fisherman's fishing rod striking the helicopter’s rotating main rotor disk during loading.
- [NTSB ANC18LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA058.md): Robinson R44 · Bettles, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2018 · N744AK · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance 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 ANC18LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA032.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Fairbanks, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 20, 2018 · N511CC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while in a hovering turn, which resulted in a collision with obstacles.
- [NTSB ANC17LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA040.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Solomon, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 3, 2017 · N4138M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above water, and his loss of situational awareness, which resulted in an inadvertent descent and collision with water.
- [NTSB ANC16CA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16CA051.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Homer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 4, 2016 · N719TF · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight collision with a bird resulting in damage to a tail rotor blade, which required replacement.
- [NTSB ANC16IA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16IA013.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Anchorage, AK · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jan 7, 2016 · N395CE · No damage
  > The overhaul facility's improper and excessive use of an approved lubricant during overhaul of the fuel injection servo, which resulted in a disruption of fuel flow and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ANC16LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA010.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Valdez, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 16, 2015 · N255VS · Substantial damage
  > The overhaul facility’s improper and excessive use of an approved lubricant during overhaul of the fuel injection servo, which resulted in a disruption of fuel flow and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB GAA16CA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA009.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Ketchikan, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 6, 2015 · N779DZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the engine start sequence, which resulted in the helicopter sliding on a steel deck and impacting a crane. Contributing to the accident was the absence of traction material on the helicopter…
- [NTSB ANC14CA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA042.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Coldfoot, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 18, 2014 · N74713 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an emergency landing on uneven terrain.
- [NTSB ANC14FA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14FA030.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Chugiak, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 28, 2014 · N392GP · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control of the helicopter due to impairment or incapacitation from a sudden, acute cardiac event.
- [NTSB ANC12CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA082.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Wainwright, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 31, 2012 · N74496 · Substantial damage
  > The failure of ground personnel to ensure the helicopter was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to monitor the fueling process.
- [NTSB ANC12CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA018.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Beluga, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 21, 2012 · N4510T · Substantial damage
  > Ground personnel's movement of cargo in windy conditions, which allowed a previously secured cargo sack to blow into the main rotor blades.
- [NTSB ANC09LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA098.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Central, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 7, 2009 · N4186Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter after an in-flight encounter with a downdraft while landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate evaluation of wind conditions.
- [NTSB ANC06LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA064.md): Robinson R44 · Skwentna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 30, 2006 · N688JK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper rigging of the external sling load, which allowed the suspended load/cargo cable to entangle and disable the tail rotor control, resulting in a loss of control during cruise and an in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC06LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA025.md): Robinson R44 · Ilimana, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 12, 2006 · N7528Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his spatial disorientation and loss of control during a subsequent landing attempt. Factors associated with the accident are flat light and whiteout conditions, fog, and snow-covered terrain.

## 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" = 'AK' 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 ('7640122', '7640123'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7640122&state=AK

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