# NTSB ERA25LA229: Robinson Helicopter R66, N633AF, Valparaiso, FL, June 12, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: June 12, 2025, 18:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Valparaiso, FL
- Coordinates: 30.480543, -86.523205
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4805&lon=-86.5232&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA, Robinson Helicopters
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200323
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA229
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200323/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA229

## Preliminary report

On June 12, 2025, about 1850 eastern daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R66, N633AF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Florida. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries, and a second passenger was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 136 air tour flight. The pilot stated that the accident flight was the fourth air tour flight of the day. After takeoff and during the transition to flight, about 15 ft above the ground, he heard a “pop,” and the helicopter made a hard right nosedive to the ground. He applied left cyclic, but nothing happened. The helicopter impacted the ground on its right side and shattered the windshield. The main rotor blades fractured into several pieces. The tail rotor and tail boom fractured off the helicopter and were located about 25 ft behind the main wreckage. During examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a representative from the helicopter manufacturer, they found that a bolt from the cyclic servo had backed out and fallen off the connecting rod. The bolt was located inside the wreckage. Other bolts were found to be only hand tight.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-hover: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N633AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N633AF), registered now, S/N 0680, built 2015 (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: 0680
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 3340
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Higgins Leasing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 2024, 2.45 hours before
- Airport: DTS, Destin Exec, runway 14, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: VPS
- METAR: KVPS 122355Z AUTO 17007KT 10SM SCT019 30/24 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP168 60000 T02950236 10313 20292 55000 $

## 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 20250612009709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250612009709A), Jun 12, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Destin, FL, Substantial damage. On 06/12/2025, at approximately 18:44 (l) [privacy data omitted] began a takeoff from Destin Executive Airport (dts), Destin, FL. The aircraft became…

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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