Robinson R44 accident near Sumner, Washington, October 8, 2006
On October 8, 2006 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N769RT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sumner, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The complete loss of engine power, for undetermined reasons, while on final approach, and the pilot's loss of control of the helicopter after the power loss. Factors include a lake below the final approach to the private landing pad.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2006 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sumner, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N769RT · no longer on the register · serial 1638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the pilot was on final approach to a landing pad near his private residence, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power while approximately 100 feet above the surface of a lake. The pilot did not apply the proper flight control inputs to maintain a controlled autorotation to the surface of the lake, and therefore the aircraft spun multiple times around its vertical axis while descending to an uncontrolled impact with the water. Immediately after impacting the surface of the lake, the helicopter sank in about 20 feet of water. There was no indication of any mechanical failure or malfunction.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 48 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sumner WA
- Destination: Sumner WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KSEA, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.