# NTSB CEN25FA367: Robinson Helicopter R66, N6633L, Lakeville, MN, September 6, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: September 6, 2025, 14:42 local (19:42 UTC)
- Place: Lakeville, MN
- Coordinates: 44.6325, -93.238889
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6325&lon=-93.2389&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Robinson Helicopter Company, Rolls-Royce, FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200949
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25FA367
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200949/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA367

## Preliminary report

On September 6, 2025, about 1442 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R66 helicopter, N6633L was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The helicopter departed a farm near Jordan, Minnesota, about 1434 and was enroute to New Richmond Regional Airport (RNH), New Richmond, Wisconsin, when it impacted the ground near a cornfield and came to rest near railroad tracks and a rail car about 0.2 nautical miles northwest of Airlake Airport (LVN), Lakeville, Minnesota. A post impact fire ensued and destroyed the helicopter. The impact heading was about 78° and the main wreckage came to rest on a heading of about 177°. Cornstalks preceding the initial impact site were cut at 45°. Most of the debris was contained to a 55 ft path between the cornfield and the rail car, consisting of the tail cone, empennage, tail rotor, fuselage, landing gear, and most of the main rotor; however, some pieces of the main rotor blades were found near the approach end of runway 12 at LVN, 610 ft beyond (southeast) the impact site. Due to impact damage, the main rotor and tail rotor flight controls could not be functionally tested. The main rotor drive shaft was bent due to impact above the swashplate; however, the driveshaft could be moved slightly by hand confirming continuity from the input yoke through the main rotor driveshaft and the tail rotor output yoke. The tail rotor input yoke was rotated by hand with no anomalies. A witness to the accident stated that the helicopter was flying straight and level and then it turned sharply to the right and the nose of the helicopter pointed toward the ground. It remained in that attitude until it disappeared behind a building, and she lost sight of it. Video surveillance near the approach end of runway 12 at LVN captured the helicopter impacting the ground in a nose low attitude on its ride side. The helicopter was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6633L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6633L), registered now, S/N 1211, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (registry code 54232, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1211
- Year built: 2023
- Airframe hours: 32
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2025
- Departed: Jordan, MN
- Destination: RNH, New Richmond, MN
- Airport: KLVN, Airlake Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KLVN, 1 nm away
- METAR: KLVN 061955Z AUTO 28008G15KT 10SM VCTS SCT041 SCT049 BKN085 16/07 A3006

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250906012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250906012849A), Sep 6, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Lakeville, MN, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. The pilot refueled with a 25-gallon top-off before the flights for the day. The helicopter was flying back to its originating airport when the pilot chose an…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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