Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Lakeport, California, June 25, 2009
On June 25, 2009 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N515DG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lakeport, California. 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 while maneuvering for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2009 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeport, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II
- Registration
- N515DG · registry record · serial 11503
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) were on a local instructional flight. The helicopter was fueled about 15 minutes prior and they were initiating a 180-degree autorotation with a power recovery. The helicopter entered into a glide and they made the turn onto the final segment. The CFI noticed that the oil and auxiliary fuel pump lights were on. The CFI then looked at the tachometer and attempted to increase the throttle. The power did not return and the CFI force-landed the helicopter. During the landing the main rotor blade impacted the tail boom. Post accident examination of the helicopter and test run of the engine revealed no operational anomalies.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 746 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 659 as pilot in command; 450 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 22, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 22, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 501 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 17, 2009; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UKI Ukiah CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: SMF Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from UKI, 7 miles away
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.