Robinson Helicopter CO R66 accident near Lakeville, Minnesota, September 6, 2025
On September 6, 2025 at about 7:42 pm local time, a 2023 Robinson Helicopter CO R66, registered N6633L, was destroyed in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota (Airlake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- September 6, 2025 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeville, Minnesota · Airlake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter CO R66, built 2023
- Registration
- N6633L · registry record · serial 1211
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 6, 2025, about 1442 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R66 helicopter, N6633L was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The helicopter departed a farm near Jordan, Minnesota, about 1434 and was enroute to New Richmond Regional Airport (RNH), New Richmond, Wisconsin, when it impacted the ground near a cornfield and came to rest near railroad tracks and a rail car about 0.2 nautical miles northwest of Airlake Airport (LVN), Lakeville, Minnesota. A post impact fire ensued and destroyed the helicopter. The impact heading was about 78° and the main wreckage came to rest on a heading of about 177°. Cornstalks preceding the initial impact site were cut at 45°. Most of the debris was contained to a 55 ft path between the cornfield and the rail car, consisting of the tail cone, empennage, tail rotor, fuselage, landing gear, and most of the main rotor; however, some pieces of the main rotor blades were found near the approach end of runway 12 at LVN, 610 ft beyond (southeast) the impact site. Due to impact damage, the main rotor and tail rotor flight controls could not be functionally tested. The main rotor drive shaft was bent due to impact above the swashplate; however, the driveshaft could be moved slightly by hand confirming continuity from the input yoke through the main rotor driveshaft and the tail rotor output yoke. The tail rotor input yoke was rotated by hand with no anomalies. A witness to the accident stated that the helicopter was flying straight and level and then it turned sharply to the right and the nose of the helicopter pointed toward the ground. It remained in that attitude until it disappeared behind a building, and she lost sight of it. Video surveillance near the approach end of runway 12 at LVN captured the helicopter impacting the ground in a nose low attitude on its ride side. The helicopter was retained for further examination.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Jordan MN at 7:34 pm
- Destination: RNH New Richmond MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KLVN, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLVN 061955Z AUTO 28008G15KT 10SM VCTS SCT041 SCT049 BKN085 16/07 A3006
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 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.