Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Sylva, North Carolina, June 14, 2021
On June 14, 2021 at about 2:54 pm local time, a 2004 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N443SH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Sylva, North Carolina (Jackson County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s intentional departure from the procedures published in the manufacturer’s flight training guide, and his subsequent loss of engine rpm, rotor rpm, and aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2021 · about 2:54 pm local time
- Place
- Sylva, North Carolina · Jackson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2004
- Registration
- N443SH · no longer on the register · serial 10306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was demonstrating emergency procedures and non-standard maneuvers in the helicopter to a new hire pilot and a company sales representative. After several simulated engine failures and autorotations, the pilot initiated a “quick stop” maneuver. The maneuver he performed did not comport with the published procedure in the manufacturer’s flight training guide, and in some cases contradicted the factory guidance in the pilot’s admittedly “slightly modified maneuver.” The pilot initiated the maneuver about 40 ft. above the runway with about 40 knots airspeed. He reduced throttle, which was not directed, added left pedal, which was opposite of that directed, the engine and rotor rpm decayed, and the helicopter descended. The pilot said that he could not recover the engine or rotor rpm prior to the collision with the runway, which substantially damaged the helicopter. The 3 occupants of the helicopter egressed without injury. The pilot stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter that would have prevented normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,977 hours in all; 1,897 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 6,742 as pilot in command; 1,512 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 250 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 15, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 2021; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AF1A5 (piston); 3,974 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15/3, 3,210 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from K1A5, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K1A5 141455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/20 A3003 RMK AO2 P0001 60002 T02720201
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 28, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot (FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot-rated Passenger Written Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot-rated Passenger Memorandum for Record | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Quick Stop Flight Training Guide (Robinson) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.