Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, June 2, 2016
On June 2, 2016 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2000 Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N441JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction's incorrect action of interfering with the flight controls and failure to comply with the flight instructor's commands, which resulted in a loss of lateral bank control and a rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2016 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44 UNDESIGNAT, built 2000 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N441JL · no longer on the register · serial 0842
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that during a helicopter "discovery flight" he was providing instruction to an airplane rated private pilot. The flight instructor further reported that prior to takeoff he told the pilot receiving instruction, "I am going to do the takeoff, and you can feel the controls." As soon as the helicopter entered a hover after takeoff, the pilot receiving instruction "put in strong left input" with the cyclic and would not stop after repeated instruction to let go of the flight controls. Subsequently, the helicopter's left main skid touched down and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The tail boom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident Report, within the owner/ operator safety recommendation section, he will not allow student pilots to touch the flight controls below 500 feet above the ground, until he is comfortable with the student.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Roll over during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Following instructions › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 224.6 hours in all; 118.6 in this make and model; 41.9 in the last 90 days; 24.1 in the last 30 days; 164.6 as pilot in command; 3 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 26, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 68 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,053.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 4,102 hours total
- Operator: 702 Helicopter INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 5:00 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:01 pm from KVGT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.