9-Dec-2012
Crashed during crop spraying operations. Sole occupant pilot killed.... Read more
9-Dec-2012
R44 with 3 POB missing. Did not arrive at intended destination in the Dmitrov District after taking off on 40 mile flight... Read more
7-Dec-2012
The aircraft was on a two-hour sightseeing tour when it went down in 60 feet of water only 25 minutes after taking off from Scottsdale Airpark. The pilot is identified as 62-year-old Fred Cleeves, owner of Skyblue Helicopters. The passengers were George Riedel, 64, and Julie Barba, 49.... Read more
5-Dec-2012Source: UTair
The first Robinson R44 helicopter has been delivered to the UTair-Engineering MRO facility in Tyumen for capital repairs. The compete inspection and refitting is expected to take 3 months. In 2012 UTair-Engineering passed the Robinson Helicopter and Russian Aviation Authority MRO performance audits in 2012, qualifying for capital repair operations on R44 helicopters, making UTair-Engineering... Read more
5-Dec-2012
Emergency beacon activated, helicopter in forested area – sole occupant pilot Glen Freeland died in the accident. Three rescuers had to be dropped by helicopter to cut out a landing pad. CADAORS 2012C5203... Read more
4-Dec-2012Source: DART helicopter Services
DART helicopter Services is pleased to announce Hong Kong Approval of their R44 Emergency Float Kits. FAA, EASA and Transport Canada approvals have already been granted. The Apical Emergency Float System provides a lightweight and easy to install solution for R44 Raven operators who need to fly over water, and are requesting the added increased... Read more
29-Nov-2012Source: Phoenix New Times
The problem began on October 12, 2011, when a report about a suspicious pilot came into the Flagstaff office of the US Dept of Homeland Security Investigations. (see full story)... Read more
25-Nov-2012
Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher has accepted a donated RT-5000 radio from Cobham Aerospace Communications. The $72,000 radio was custom-built for YCSO, and can be upgraded as technology changes. (see full story)... Read more
25-Nov-2012
Helicopter exploded after striking fuel bay canopy. Sole occupant pilot was killed. Occurred at 11.08pm local time. The casualty was later named as owner James Belcher... Read more
31-Oct-2012Source: San Bernardino Sun
Two forces – one with a Robinson R44 (and expanding to R66) and one with a Cessna fixed-wing – to merge aviation operations (see full story)... Read more
26-Oct-2012
Substantially damaged during tree harvesting operation... Read more
25-Oct-2012
Pilot named as Múcio Pereira Júnior, 31. Passengers were Rafael Cavalcanti and Alan Magalhães Souza, both 29. Level of damage not apparent from reports, which confirm it crashed in a forested area... Read more
22-Oct-2012
The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has a new weapon to help fight crime. The Sheriff recently bought a Robinson R44 Helicopter from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi. (see full story)... Read more
19-Oct-2012Source: Cool City Avionics
Cool City Avionics, a manufacturer of low cost, professional-grade automatic flight guidance control systems and helicopter stability augmentation systems, is pleased to announce that it has appointed thirteen new authorized dealers in the United States, three in Canada and one each in Denmark, Germany and Guatemala. Additional dealers will be appointed in the coming months.... Read more
18-Oct-2012
Two people uninjured when helicopter crashed at Innisfail Airport, 120 miles N of Calgary. Helicopter was approx 6m altitude on take off. CADAORS ref 2012C4679... Read more
16-Oct-2012
Crashed and burned on field. Pilot fatally injured... Read more
12-Oct-2012Source: Destin4Me
Okaloosa recently approved a new tourism helicopter company in Destin that has some residents up in arms. Beach Helicopter can proceed with their plans to set-up a 6,000-square-foot helipad off U.S. Highway 98 (see full story). Beach Helicopter are understood to operate a Robinson R44... Read more
11-Oct-2012
Circumstances not known. 3 fatalities – pilot Chester Monroe (35) and passengers Rusty Aaron (26) and Kaci Fairchild (29)... Read more
11-Oct-2012
During the initial climb, the pilot received a clutch warning and the helicopter lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing and the helicopter sustained substantial damage.... Read more
7-Oct-2012Source: EasyReader
Torrance-based Robinson Helicopter Co. donated $15,000 each to Palos Verdes and Torrance school districts. In PV the funds went toward building fabrication labs at each of three area middle schools. (see full story)... Read more
30-Sep-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Stacy and Randy Riggs, owners of Alamo Helicopter Tours of San Antonio are expanding to a second Texan city with the launch of Austin Helicopter Tours. They open for business on 1st October from Bud Dryden Airport, which is about four miles north east of the main Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Initially focusing on the tour... Read more
30-Sep-2012
Crashed into Lake Nocona, 3 POB – pilot was reportedly the owner Darren Fenoglio, with passengers Josh Walterscheid and Derrick Morse. Helicopter sank in lake. One report stated pilot only had a student certificate and thus not allowed to carry passengers... Read more
28-Sep-2012
During a an orchard spraying operation, while pilot was concentrating on avoiding a line of tree, the tail rotor struck a wire. Tail rotor effectiveness was lost and the main rotors struck some trees. Helicopter rolled over... Read more
22-Sep-2012
Crashed and ended up on its port side. Initial investigations are looking at whether the helicopter was overloaded and/or outside CofG limits... Read more
19-Sep-2012
R44 extensively damaged and all three POB to hospital with injuries. Helicopter ended up on its port side (see photos)... Read more
18-Sep-2012
Pilot lost control in the hover, helicopter crashed and burnt out... Read more
17-Sep-2012
Just after landing, the heat of the exhaust caused the grass where the R44 had landed to catch fire, ultimately consuming the helicopter. CADAORS ref 2012C4261... Read more
11-Sep-2012Source: Cool City Avionics
Cool City Electronics, Inc., dba Cool City Avionics, a manufacturer of low cost, professional-grade automatic flight control systems and stability augmentation systems for helicopters, is pleased to announce that it has received FAA Supplemental Type Certificate SR09624RC for its SAS-100 Stability Augmentation System, allowing its installation in Robinson R-44 helicopters. The new Stability Augmentation System... Read more
3-Sep-2012
R44 routing from Switzerland through France to Spain. Had taken off from Clermont-Ferrand, destination Le Luc in the Var region. Father and son killed in the accident. Controlled flight into terrain. Aircraft destroyed... Read more
31-Aug-2012Source: JTI Air Holdings
Using gasoline as an alternative helicopter fuel is not only better for the environment, but also more cost efficient, Fuller says. In Europe, JTI’s automotive gasoline supplemental type certificates (STCs) are sold by company representative Joop van Weele of Holland. (Seehttp://www.vliegwerkholland.nl/autofuel.html for info.) Leaded helicopter fuel is being phased out worldwide due to environmental concerns. JTI Air Holdings has led... Read more
28-Aug-2012Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com has heard that the projected lead times for new aircraft orders at Robinson are as follows, based on information sourced on 24th August: R22 – November 2012 Raven I – December 2012 Raven II – March 2013 R66 – June 2013 These projections are based on the current production schedule and are subject to... Read more
25-Aug-2012
Struck low-level power cables on final approach due to the pilot having the sun in his eyes. Helicopter ended on starboard side. 60- year old pilot suffered concussion, head injury and scratches... Read more
19-Aug-2012
Emergency landing made in forest area, helicopter ended up on its side heavily damaged. Wedding flight – groom Danilo Everson dos Santos Rosa and the bride’s mother Maria de Lourdes Rosa, 49, were the passengers. Pilot was Rodrigo Batista Lemos, age 32. All three to hospital... Read more
9-Aug-2012
Struck guide wire to a tower... Read more
6-Aug-2012
Synidcate/Club-0wned R44 ditched in the Black Sea at night 200 metres from the shore, and sank. Sole occupant pilot (from who lives in Kharkov) swam ashore.... Read more
5-Aug-2012
Low-rotor-rpm horn sounded on climb-out. Skids hit uneven ground during run-on landing, causing helicopter to fall on its side. Two occupants exited safely only to watch the helicopter be consumed by post-crash fire. see also http://www.3CapesHeliChallenge.com/... Read more
1-Aug-2012Source: WIVB Channel 4
Western New York Helicopters has opened up Buffalo Waterfront Tours, which will take people along the lakefront, the Naval Park, and downtown Buffalo (see full story)... Read more
31-Jul-2012
Damaged in emergency landing. No injuries to 4 POB... Read more
31-Jul-2012
Autorotated and landed hard... Read more
29-Jul-2012
Difficulties on take-off resulted in heavy landing with much damage to the helicopter – operator is quoted in press estimating damage cost at 150,000 euros. Minor injuries to the 4 POB... Read more
26-Jul-2012
Emergency landing on the shoulder of Highway 198, between kilometre 36 and 37 near the former copper-mining town of Murdochville, about 825 kilometres northeast of Montreal. CADAORS 2012Q1702... Read more
25-Jul-2012Source: Aspen Avionics
Aspen Avionics, manufacturer of the innovative Evolution Flight Display System, announced today the FAA approval for installation of Aspen’s H-series Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) and Multi-function Flight Displays (MFDs) into the Robinson R44 and R44 II model helicopters. Aspen’s H-series PFD and MFD systems are designed and manufactured to meet the rigors of helicopter operations.... Read more
19-Jul-2012Source: Lycoming
Lycoming Continues Call for ‘UL 100’ as a Fleetwide Solution Williamsport, PA – July 18th, 2012 – Lycoming Engines, a division of Avco Corporation, released Service Instruction SI-1070R on April 16th, 2012, which approved a wide variety of engines for use with ASTM D7547 UL 91 unleaded avgas. European Aviation Safety Administration (EASA) Safety Information... Read more
19-Jul-2012
Shortly after dropping two passengers, helicopter had problem on take-off and it crashed onto its starboard side. Pilot Christoffel Myburgh sustained head injuries... Read more
18-Jul-2012Source: SkyTrac
Airborne Energy Solutions (AES), with headquarters in Whitecourt, AB operates helicopters in remote locations where communications are either limited or non-existent. This makes flight following difficult and ineffective. This, and the desire for a reliable system to fill the safety void that existed started AES’s search for a flight following vendor. Looking for a system... Read more
14-Jul-2012
Rotor blade struck vehicle on landing... Read more
12-Jul-2012
Helicopter was involved in operation cutting trees back along a powerline, using an underslung saw. Finnish pilot... Read more
12-Jul-2012
Helicopter landed heavily and fell onto its side... Read more
10-Jul-2012Source: Robinson
Latest information from Robinson Helicopter Co in Torrance provides us with their lead times as at 29th June 2012. If you place a deposit for a new R22, it will be delivered ex factory in October 2012. For a R44 Raven I you are looking at November 2012, or a Raven II two months further... Read more
10-Jul-2012
Helicopter was involved in a low level bear survey and crashed. Pilot killed, one passenger seriously injured, the other minor injuries. Pilot was later identified as 56-year-old Paul Rosset, from Yellowknife. Both passengers were employees of Environment Yukon – named here as Jonathan Postma and Raphael Roy-Jauvin. CADORS 2012C2841... Read more
4-Jul-2012
Crashed into lake – student pilot on night training exercise... Read more
2-Jul-2012
“helicopter made a crash landing”. No injuries... Read more
22-Jun-2012Source: Rotorcorp
On June 15th, 2012 Robinson Helicopter Company released an announcement offering R44 Astro, Raven I and Raven II operators a $1000 rebate on the KI-196 Bladder Tank Retrofit Kits in accordance with Service Bulletin 78A.  This bulletin requires R44 helicopters with all-aluminum fuel tanks to be retrofitted with bladder-type tanks.  To improve the R44 fuel system’s resistance to... Read more
22-Jun-2012
After being airborne for approximately 35 minutes, the engine began to lose power. The pilot picked an oil well lease site for a precautionary landing and while descending to the intended landing spot, the engine lost and regained power and then finally quit. The pilot entered autorotation and on landing the aircraft bounced, resulting in... Read more
19-Jun-2012Source: Robinson
Addressed to “All R44 Dealers, Service Centers and Owners” (original pdf here) Robinson Helicopter Co. (RHC) is offering a U.S $1,000 rebate to all R44 owners who purchase and install the KI-196 Kit, in accordance with SB-78A, on or before December 31, 2012. To receive the rebate, the owner must provide RHC with the aircraft... Read more
18-Jun-2012
Rotor blade clipped the branch of a tree while hover taxying... Read more
17-Jun-2012
Autorotated into field and the boom broke off... Read more
14-Jun-2012
Wire strike while involved in spraying operations at low level. Landed safely, although cut wire meant that 530 customers were without electricity... Read more
13-Jun-2012Source: Heliflite
More than 100 pilots have attended Heliflite’s hosted Robinson Factory Pilot Safety Courses in Sydney, Melbourne & Wanaka (NZ) during late May and early June. All three courses were presented by Robinson Helicopter Company’s Chief Instructor and Test Pilot, Tim Tucker. The Robinson Factory Pilot Safety Course caters for all pilots of all levels of experience... Read more
13-Jun-2012
Helicopter struck power lines during an agricultural spraying operation. The helicopter was damaged but a safe landing was made.... Read more
12-Jun-2012
Clipped a power line while attempting to dry off an East Wenatchee cherry orchard. Two occupants seriously injured, of which one died in hospital the day after.... Read more
12-Jun-2012
After takeoff, the helicopter struck a single power line and the helicopter subsequently impacted the ground.... Read more
11-Jun-2012
Landed heavily with 4 POB while transporting spectators for the Finke Desert Race. 2 Minor injuries.... Read more
10-Jun-2012
Shortly after departure from Doña Ana County Airport at Santa Teresa, New Mexico. “Officials say strong winds could be to blame.” 3POB... Read more
9-Jun-2012
Accident occurred shortly after the pilot told ATC that he would need to make a precautionary landing due to weather conditions. En route from Augsburg (Germany) to Salzburg (Austria).... Read more
7-Jun-2012Source: Rappler
Charges were filed on Wednesday 6th against Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, former National Police chief Jesus Verzosa, a businessman, and 19 retired and active police officers over the sale of second-hand R44s to the Philippine National Police. (see full story) see earlier HeliHub.com story – Controversy surrounds R44 acquisition by Philippine National Police... Read more
1-Jun-2012
Video shows one or two people at a time dangling from the skids, waiting for the pilot to take them over open water where they dropped to the water below. At one point, the pilot goes so high the person hanging on drops an estimated 50 feet. (see full story and video). The helicopter shown... Read more
28-May-2012
Zion National Park is a big tourist attraction and a businessman wants to give visitors a view from above of the park and other attractions. But some residents, including the mayor, object to part of his plan. (see full story)... Read more
28-May-2012
Emergency landing in field, no damage... Read more
27-May-2012
Tail struck ground while hovering, causing helicopter to crash land on its side... Read more
24-May-2012
One person was killed and another critically injured when the R44 crashed on Thursday into the veld. Helicopter ended up on its port side. Fatality named in online forum as Riaan Van Brakel... Read more
19-May-2012
Main blades chopped tail boom on landing... Read more
18-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
