Robinson R44 accident near Temecula, California, April 6, 2010
On April 6, 2010 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N688SS, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Temecula, California (Private Helipad airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2010 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · Private Helipad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 UNDESIGNAT · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N688SS · no longer on the register · serial 0861
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he and two passengers traveled to a friend's private residence in the accident helicopter and landed on a hill with a slope. They were at the residence for a few hours before they got back in the helicopter to travel home. During their visit, the wind direction had become variable and produced a tailwind to the parked position of the helicopter. The pilot stated that prior to takeoff he did not reposition the helicopter directly into the wind while it was on the ground, as he felt the wind was not that strong. During takeoff, as the helicopter lifted off the ground and into a hover, the pilot started a right turn to position the helicopter into the wind. The helicopter drifted left of the landing pad area and the pilot recalled the helicopter spinning to the right faster than he had anticipated and he counteracted by adding additional power and left pedal to slow the rate of turn. As the helicopter was in the turn, he heard the low rpm warning and the low rotor rpm warning light illuminated. The pilot then attempted to enter a hover autorotation; however, the helicopter did not make the landing pad. The helicopter touched down on the slope of the hill and rolled over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident.
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 control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,866 hours in all; 52 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 4, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,127 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 11, 2009; 100 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Twin Air
The flight
- Departed from: Temecula CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.