Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Liberty, Missouri, April 25, 2014
On April 25, 2014 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 2005 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N32VB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Liberty, Missouri (Roosterville airport). It was a personal 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 directional control while operating in gusty wind conditions at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2014 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Liberty, Missouri · Roosterville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II II, built 2005
- Registration
- N32VB · no longer on the register · serial 10636
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon arrival at the destination airport, the pilot hovered the helicopter about 2 feet above the ground and prepared to land. The pilot noted that during the hover while the nose of the helicopter was pointed east, the wind shifted direction and gusted from the west. The helicopter's tail section raised and the nose lowered, which allowed the main rotor blades to strike the ground. The helicopter rolled over on its left side and sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the scene; an examination of the helicopter was conducted and did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that if he had kept the helicopter's nose pointed into the wind then the accident might not have occurred.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,088 hours in all; 713 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 25, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,217 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 2013; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 1,217 hours total
- Operator: Eid-Co
The flight
- Departed from: POF Poplar Bluff MO at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 0N0 Liberty MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMCI, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 2014. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | 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.