Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Buffalo, South Dakota, April 13, 2013
On April 13, 2013 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N424DP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Buffalo, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while maneuvering at a low altitude in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an emergency landing on uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2013 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Buffalo, South Dakota · 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
- Registration
- N424DP · registry record · serial 11036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, while maneuvering during a sightseeing flight at an altitude of between 100 and 150 feet and an airspeed of 50 knots, he reversed course into a strong, gusting tailwind. After making the turn, the low-rotor rpm horn activated. The pilot lowered the collective and executed an emergency landing to uneven terrain, during which the tail boom and landing gear separated from the fuselage of the helicopter. An examination of the airframe and engine, which included a successful functional test of the engine, revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,020 hours in all; 89 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 27, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 940 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2013; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Double D Choppers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Buffalo SD at 6:10 pm
- Destination: Buffalo SD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from K2WX, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.