# NTSB ERA25LA267: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N67RW, Inlet, NY, July 9, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 9, 2025, 12:22 local (16:22 UTC) - Place: Inlet, NY - Coordinates: 43.742452, -74.754324 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7425&lon=-74.7543&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200538/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200538 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA267 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 approaching to land in his yard, while still over water, he lowered the collective to prevent an increase in altitude when he flared. As the helicopter began to settle, he increased the collective; however, his hand was too far up the collective and his grip prevented the governor from automatically increasing the throttle to increase rotor rpm and maintain lift when the collective was raised. The helicopter impacted the water resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67RW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67RW), registered now, S/N 12526, built 2008 (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: 12526 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 1635.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 2024, 92 hours before - Airport: N/A - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 802 total, 421 in this make and model, 421 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: GTB, 46 nm away - METAR: METAR KGTB 091555Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW026 FEW210 25/17 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP159 T02470169 $ ## 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 20250709011119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250709011119A), Jul 9, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Inlet, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was making an approach to the landing dock located adjacent to the lake. As he descended toward the water he misjudged the amount of decrease… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200538. 24.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19080903&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Printed%206120.1%20ERA25LA267_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 875 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19080913&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA25LA267-Rel.pdf - No. 1 video of accident (item 3, MP4, 14.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19081298&FileExtension=MP4&FileName=Video%20of%20accident%201-Rel.MP4 - No. 2 video of accident (item 4, MOV, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19081419&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=Video%20of%20accident%202-Rel.MOV 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.