Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Seward, Alaska, May 15, 2010
On May 15, 2010 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N81191, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Seward, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 clearance from snow-covered terrain while hovering in flat light conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2010 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Seward, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N81191 · registry record · serial 0855
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial helicopter pilot reported that he was on a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, business flight transporting a passenger and seven dogs to a remote camp. As he approached the camp, which was at 3,800 feet mean seal level on a snow-covered glacier, flat light conditions made it difficult to discern topographical features on the glacier, so he elected to land at an alternate landing site at 3,200 feet msl to wait for conditions to improve. During the approach to the alternate site, just before touchdown, the pilot said that the low rotor annunciator horn sounded and that he lowered the collective to regain rotor rpm. The pilot was unable to initiate a go-around so he brought the helicopter to a hover, but due to the prevailing flat light he was unable to discern his height above the site and he unintentionally allowed the helicopter's left skid to touchdown on the uneven, snow-covered terrain. He said that there was an "instantaneous dynamic rollover" as the helicopter rolled to the left, the main rotor blades struck the snow, and the helicopter came to rest inverted. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom and main rotor drive system. In his written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the helicopter, and in the recommendations section of the NTSB 6120.1 form he wrote, in part: "Always keep an 'out' or rejected approach path if conditions are unfavorable on short final." He also noted that he underestimated the difficulties associated with flat light over snow-covered terrain.
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
What happened, in order
- Dynamic rollover during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 967 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 835 as pilot in command; 275 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 17, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,468 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 8, 2010; 22 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Polux Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Seward AK at 1:25 pm
- Destination: Seward AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N81191 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.