# NTSB CEN25LA326: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N24DF, Cape Girardeau, MO, August 16, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 16, 2025, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Cape Girardeau, MO
- Coordinates: 37.225225, -89.571673 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2252&lon=-89.5717&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200815
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA326
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200815/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA326

## Preliminary report

On August 16, 2025, at 1150 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N24DF was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 air tour flight. The pilot reported that during an enroute descent towards his destination airport, he felt and heard a loud vibration and immediately started to lose tail rotor authority. During the vibration, he observed the alternator warning annunciator light illuminate but did not observe any reduction of rotor or engine RPM. The pilot decided to perform an autorotation to a nearby field. During the autorotation, the helicopter landed hard which resulted in the main rotor contacting the tail boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, tail boom, tail rotor drive system, and tail rotor. 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.

- [Enroute-descent: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24DF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24DF), registered now, S/N 14246 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 14246
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Cape Copters LLC
- Registered owner: Cape Copters LLC
- Destination: Same as departure

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KCGI
- METAR: KCGI 161653Z 29004KT 10SM CLR 33/23 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP190 T03330233

## 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 20250816015469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250816015469A), Aug 16, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Cape Girardeau, MO, Substantial damage. Airman was conducting air tour operations at approximately 400 feet AGL at 75 knots on approach to landing when the aircraft developed abnormal…

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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