Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Petersville, Alaska, August 29, 2025
On August 29, 2025 at about 7:50 pm local time, a 2005 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N74435, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Petersville, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2025 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Petersville, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2005
- Registration
- N74435 · registry record · serial 10718
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was transporting three passengers and their equipment to a remote landing zone (LZ) in mountainous terrain. According to the operator, the helicopter’s estimated gross weight was 2,440 lbs., approximately 60 lbs. below the maximum gross weight of 2,500 lbs. The pilot stated that a guide onboard the helicopter was directing him to the LZ. He had initially planned to conduct a northwesterly reconnaissance flyover of the landing area; however, he became distracted when the guide pointed out the intended LZ directly ahead. As a result, the pilot immediately turned toward the site and initiated a steep approach without completing the planned flyover. During the approach, the pilot reported an increasing descent rate. He applied additional collective to arrest the descent, after which the full-throttle annunciator illuminated. Despite the collective being fully raised, the helicopter continued descending and subsequently impacted the ground. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and the main and tail rotor drive systems. Following the accident, the pilot estimated the wind was from the south at approximately 15 to 20 knots. He reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,628 hours in all; 1,187 in this make and model; 2,510 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,372 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 5, 2025; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 2,133 hours total
- Operator: Pollux Aviation LTD
The flight
- Departed from: 4AK6 Wasilla AK at 7:50 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PATK, 40 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PATK 291953Z 18011KT 10SM -RA BKN014 OVC024 11/09 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP126 P0001 T01060094 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 22, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.