Robinson R-44 accident near Shageluk, Alaska, June 26, 2002
On June 26, 2002 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-44 (helicopter), registered N144AK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shageluk, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2002 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shageluk, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44 · all R-44s on the register
- Registration
- N144AK · registry record · serial 0569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was making a visual approach, over water, to a beach on the shore of a lake. About 200 feet above lake level the pilot said he looked inside the helicopter to check the carburetor heat. When he looked up, the helicopter was headed nose down toward the water. As he made corrective actions, the tail rotor struck the surface of the water. The helicopter continued its descent into the lake, and submerged in about nine feet of water.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,966 hours in all; 843 in this make and model; 1,909 as pilot in command; 339 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 20, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Quicksilver Air, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: SHX Shageluk AK
- Destination: Shageluk AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from PANV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.