# NTSB CEN25LA359: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N442PR, Nashville, AR, August 31, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2025, 20:25 local (Aug 31, 2025, 01:25 UTC) - Place: Nashville, AR - Coordinates: 34.045, -93.783 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0450&lon=-93.7830&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200928/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200928 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA359 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the landing zone being unlit. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while enroute, about two minutes from his planned landing zone, the low-fuel light illuminated. He flew past the intended landing zone, which was unlit, and continued searching for the landing zone until the engine suffered a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated an autorotation, and, while searching for a landing reference, the helicopter impacted a power pole. The helicopter came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, fuselage, and main rotor system. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by monitoring the fuel level and having lighting at his landing zone. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442PR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442PR), registered now, S/N 11278, built 2006 (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: [Continental IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-540-series) (registry code 17051, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11278 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1863 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: A&E Aerial LLC - Registered owner: A&E Aerial LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: None, Grass lot - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,292.3 total, 1,292.3 in this make and model, 131.8 in the last 90 days, 42.5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KDEQ, 31 nm away - METAR: METAR KDEQ 010153Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN080 OVC100 24/23 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02440228= ## 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 20250830020649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250830020649A), Aug 30, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Nashville, AR, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that while en route to his home, about two minutes from his planned landing zone, the low-fuel light illuminated. He flew past the intended… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200928. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19620533&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20FORM%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19620557&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.