- Date
- June 29, 2025, 20:05 local (Jun 30, 2025, 04:05 UTC)
- Place
- Palmer, AK · Mountains
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N531ATRobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of visual reference
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20250629008789A
- Case key
- 200463
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain.
Findings · 8
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that she was departing from an area of mountainous, snow-covered terrain with flat light conditions. She said that after takeoff, while in a high hover, she made a left pedal turn on departure to avoid obstacles and other parked helicopters. As the helicopter was turning, an advisory light illuminated on the instrument panel. She focused her attention inside on the light and when she looked back outside everything appeared white and she lost all visual reference with the terrain. Subsequently the helicopter impacted the snow-covered terrain and rolled over to the left. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N531AT
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 14025
- Built
- 2016
- Airframe hours
- 1,595.5
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 135
- Operator
- Elevate Aviation LLC
- Registered owner
- R44 Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 7, 2025 · 47 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Palmer, AK
- Destination
- PVT · Palmer, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 20, 2025
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 654 total · 226 in this make and model · 560 as pilot in command · 103 in the last 90 days · 51 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- PAAQ, 13 nm away
- METAR
- PAAQ 300353Z AUTO 14013G24KT 10SM OVC065 15/07 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP169 T01500072 TSNO
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.