Robinson R44 accident near Namur, Be, October 8, 2017
On October 8, 2017 at about 10:37 am local time, a 2008 Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered OOFLY, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Namur (Namur-Suarlee airport). It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- October 8, 2017 · about 10:37 am local time
- Place
- Namur, Belgium · Namur-Suarlee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 Raven 1, built 2008 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- OOFLY · no longer on the register · serial 1857
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,785 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: EBNM Namur at 12:43 pm
- Destination: EBNM Namur
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from EBCI, 31 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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.