Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Roeselare, Be, September 5, 2014
On September 5, 2014 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N60JD, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Roeselare. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2014 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roeselare, Belgium · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44 UNDESIGNAT · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N60JD · no longer on the register · serial 1294
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Roeselare at 6:00 pm
- Destination: EBKT Wevelgem
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.