Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Forest City, South Dakota, July 2, 2015
On July 2, 2015 at about 2:00 am local time, a 2006 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N824DK, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Forest City, South Dakota. 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 monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance during takeoff, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2015 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Forest City, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II II, built 2006
- Registration
- N824DK · registry record · serial 11117
- 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 after he dropped his passenger off on a road, he departed to the east in smoky and hazy conditions. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter impacted power transmission line wires that ran across the road. The helicopter then impacted the ground and skidded to a stop. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotors, upper arm, and fork assembly.
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 maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › (general) › (general) › Damaged/degraded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Haze/smoke › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 261 hours in all; 249 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 19, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 391 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 2015; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 AE1A5 (piston); 391 hours total
- Operator: Warner Farm CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: Forest City SD at 2:00 am
- Destination: Forest City SD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 am from KMBG, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 2, 2015. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Phone Conversation (Mechanic) | PDF, 1 page | 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.