Robinson R44 II accident near Woodward, Oklahoma, April 13, 2005
On April 13, 2005 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter), registered N7535S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodward, Oklahoma (West Woodward Airport). It was a business 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 encounter with adverse weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2005 · about 4:30 pm local time · cases in 2005
- Place
- Woodward, Oklahoma · West Woodward Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N7535S · no longer on the register · serial 10496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touching down on a portable helipad in a single-engine helicopter, the 10,500-hour pilot started "cool down procedures." After "sufficient time", the pilot disengaged the clutch, waited 30-45 seconds, and then turned the engine off. With the cyclic locked in the center position, the clutch light went out, and the rotor was winding down slowly. As the pilot reached back to apply the rotor brake, "a strong wind gust caused the rotor to lift and strike the tail boom. At the time of rotor blade impact, the engine was turned off and the clutch was totally disengaged." The reported wind at the time of the accident was from 350 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 15 knots..
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 74.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 74.8 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3O3 Purcell OK at 4:00 pm
- Destination: WWR Woodward OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from WWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N7535S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7535S: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Robinson R44 1,944 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 1,044 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- West Woodward Airport · nearest airport
- Purcell Municipal - Steven E Shephard Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Oklahoma 1,300 since 1982 · 181 in the last ten years
- Oklahoma 5,647 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7535S 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DFW05CA072.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.