# NTSB WPR25LA262: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N877DR, Burlington, WA, August 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 18, 2025, 10:08 local (17:08 UTC) - Place: Burlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.470526, -122.42168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4705&lon=-122.4217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025 - 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): 200870 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200870/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200870 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA262 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to see and avoid the light pole, which resulted in a collision with the light pole and subsequent ground impact. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Taxi: 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 According to the pilot, prior to departure, while in a 10 ft hover, he maneuvered away from a parked vehicle when the helicopter struck a light pole to the aft and right side of the helicopter. Subsequently, the helicopter descended and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N877DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N877DR), registered now, S/N 12520, 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: 12520 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 3415 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cline Air Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 28, 2025 - Airport: BVS, Skagit Rgnl - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2025; seat: right; flight hours: 16,775 total, 751 in this make and model, 14,502 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KBVS - METAR: METAR KBVS 181655Z AUTO 20005KT 10SM BKN050 BKN060 BKN075 18/13 A3003 RMK A01= ## 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 20250818018099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250818018099A), Aug 18, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Burlington, WA, Substantial damage. Helcopter was lifing off from a flatbed trailer. In the process of departing, the pilot swung the tail around to depart and subsequently hit the tail boom on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200870. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19526176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19526626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-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.