Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Restauracion, Dominican Republic, Do, February 4, 2010
On February 4, 2010 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N7535F, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Restauracion, Dominican Republic. 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
- February 4, 2010 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Restauracion, Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II
- Registration
- N7535F · no longer on the register · serial 10459
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 4, 2010, about 1940 Atlantic standard time, a Robinson R44II helicopter, N7535F, impacted the side of Mount Jina Mocha, in the city of Restauracion, Dominican Republic, at night, while en route from Port Au Prince, Haiti to Cibao International Airport, Santiago, Dominican Republic. The pilot and passenger were killed. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and post impact fire. The accident investigation is under the control and jurisdiction of the Government of the Dominican Republic. Any further information may be obtained from: Presidencia de la Republica Dominicana Secretaria Administrativa de la Presidencia Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC) Edificio de Oficinas Gubernamentales Avenida Mexico Esq. Dr. Delgado Bloque "A", Segundo Piso Apartado Postal 1180 Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from the DGAC of the Dominican Republic.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MTPP Port Au Prince at 11:00 pm
- Destination: MDST Santiago
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
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 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.