Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, August 8, 2010
On August 8, 2010 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N367JM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight performance calculations, which resulted in the overweight helicopter's lack of hover capability out of ground effect.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2010 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N367JM · no longer on the register · serial 0638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the takeoff the helicopter encountered a downdraft about 20 feet above the hilltop helipad. He stated that he attempted to compensate for the wind with a collective input, but the helicopter descended and struck the downsloping hillside. The helicopter came to rest on its side and incurred substantial damage during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter. Review of performance documents in the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the helicopter revealed that it was loaded 94 pounds above the maximum gross weight and 120 pounds above the maximum allowable gross weight for out-of-ground-effect hover maneuvers for the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident.
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
- Aircraft loading event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Roll over
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weight/balance calculations › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,050 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 23, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Isla Grande Rental CORP
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Aguadilla PR at 8:15 pm
- Destination: NONE San Sebastian PR
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from TJBQ, 10 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 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.