Robinson R44 accident near Linden, New Jersey, December 18, 2005
On December 18, 2005 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N44EK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, New Jersey (Linden 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 2005 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N44EK · registry record · serial 690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Robinson R-44 helicopter experienced a loss of engine power on the initial climb after takeoff, during an instructional flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) conducted an autorotation to a nearby construction site; however, the helicopter's skids dug into the muddy ground, and the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The CFI reported 1,920 hours of total flight experience, which included about 300 hours in the accident helicopter make and model.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,920 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,361 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 240 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 5:20 pm
- Destination: LDJ Linden NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,137 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from EWR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N44EK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.