Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Douglas, Wyoming, June 9, 2017
On June 9, 2017 at about 2:20 pm local time, a 2016 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N590GG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Douglas, Wyoming. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to control the helicopter's descent after encountering a sudden wind shift to a tailwind while performing a near maximum gross weight landing at a high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2017 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Douglas, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II II, built 2016
- Registration
- N590GG · registry record · serial 13973
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot and three passengers departed in a reciprocating engine-powered helicopter for an aerial tour of ranch operations. The pilot reported that, before departure, about a 12- to 15-knot westerly wind prevailed. During the tour flight and on the approach to a vacant spot for landing near a cattle facility, the pilot observed light wind conditions. The pilot also noted that the power and glidepath indications were normal and that the airspeed was 30 knots at 100 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot added that "somewhere below 50 ft agl," there was a sudden, abrupt, high descent rate; as he manipulated the controls, the low rpm light illuminated, and the low rpm warning horn sounded. There was insufficient altitude to lower the collective and regain rpm before the helicopter impacted terrain and rolled to the side while the engine continued to run. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, he observed a steady tailwind of at least 15 knots. Based on the available information, it is likely that, after encountering a sudden wind shift to a tailwind during landing, the helicopter entered a descent from which the pilot could not recover. Based on the conditions at the time of the accident, the calculated density altitude was 7,015 ft, and the helicopter was near the maximum gross weight of 2,500 lbs.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,457 hours in all; 4,848 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 15, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 112.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 2017
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Douglas WY
- Destination: Douglas WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from KDGW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 8, 2018. 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, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Density Altitude | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | News Article | PDF, 3 pages | 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.