# NTSB WPR25LA118: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N7530U, Hobbs, NM, March 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 25, 2025, 15:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Hobbs, NM · airport runway - Coordinates: 32.687349, -103.21752 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6873&lon=-103.2175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 199914 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199914/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199914 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA118 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s loss of directional control during a hover, which resulted in an impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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. - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: 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 flight instructor reported that the student pilot was on going on a solo flight after being endorsed and completing a dual instruction flight. As the helicopter lifted into a hover, the instructor saw the student jerk the collective and the helicopter spun to the right. The student attempted to recover with cyclic control inputs, but the helicopter dynamically rolled over and impacted terrain. Subsequently, the fuselage and drivetrain sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7530U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7530U), registered now, S/N 10411, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10411 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 3546.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flap Air Helicopter Service Inc - Registered owner: Flap Air Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 3, 2024, 99 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HOB, Lea County Rgnl - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; student; medical: basicmed; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 91.9 total, 34.6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KHOB - METAR: KHOB 252050Z 19006G14KT 10SM CLR 30/M10 A3007 ## 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 20250325007519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250325007519A), Mar 25, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Hobbs, NM, Substantial damage. On March 25, 2025, a Robinson R-44, while attempting to hover taxi, encountered a dynamic rollover and impacted terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199914. 40.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18862267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%206120%20118_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 38.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18862473&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%206120%20118_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18862351&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20118-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.