Robinson Helicopter CO R66 accident near Henniker, New Hampshire, December 22, 2014
On December 22, 2014 at about 1:40 pm local time, a 2013 Robinson Helicopter CO R66, registered N64HF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Henniker, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing, which resulted in a collision with a snow bank. Contributing to the accident was ice that covered the landing surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2014 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Henniker, New Hampshire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter CO R66, built 2013
- Registration
- N64HF · no longer on the register · serial 0268
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the helicopter at a private heliport. The outside air temperature was about -1 degree Celsius (C). After a normal touchdown, the helicopter began to spin and the tail rotor struck a snow bank, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor and lower vertical stabilizer. After exiting the helicopter, the pilot noted that the ground was coated with "black ice." The pilot reported that he did not experience any malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported about 635 hours of rotorcraft flight experience, which included 85 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 634 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 634 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 27, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 79 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C300/A1 (turboshaft); 79 hours total
- Operator: Hillsboro Ford INC
The flight
- Departed from: LCI Laconia NH at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Henniker NH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 pm from LCI, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.