Robinson R44 accident near Milazzo, It, August 12, 2010
On August 12, 2010 at about 6:00 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered IKOST, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Milazzo (Milazzo airport). It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 4 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
- August 12, 2010 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Milazzo, Italy · Milazzo
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- IKOST · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 12, 2010, about 0600 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), a Robinson R44, Italian registration I-KOST, operated by Intesa Leasing, Rent and Fly, as a personal flight, collided with a building and the ground during takeoff from a private field at Milazzo, Salina Island, Italy. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot and three passengers were killed. The flight was originating at the time. This investigation is under jurisdiction of the Government of Italy. This report is for informational purposes only and contains information released by the Government of Italy. For further information contact: Ing Alessandro Cometa ANSV – Agenzia Nazionale Sicurezza Volo Via Attilio Benigni, 53 00156 Rome – Italy Phone: +39 06 82078 231 Fax: +39 06 8273 822
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
Pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Intesa Leasing Rent & Fly
The flight
- Departed from: Milazzo at 6:00 am
- Destination: Milazzo
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.