Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Los Angeles, California, June 6, 2013
On June 6, 2013 at about 9:17 pm local time, a 2006 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N915BW, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Los Angeles, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of helicopter control following a precautionary landing, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2013 · about 9:17 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2006
- Registration
- N915BW · registry record · serial 11428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the flight, the pilot reported observing the main rotor gearbox chip warning light illuminate. In accordance with the helicopter's operating handbook, he performed an immediate precautionary landing. As he approached his intended landing spot, adjacent to a park trail, he saw people on the ground, so he diverted to a small clearing on a pinnacle at the end of another trail. After landing on the pinnacle and before he had a chance to fully lower the collective control, he felt the helicopter slip. He then raised the collective control, and the helicopter immediately spun to the right and rolled over. Ground scars and airframe damage indicated that, as the pilot attempted to reposition the helicopter, it most likely experienced a dynamic rollover due to the left landing skid becoming lodged against a ridge. Postaccident examination of the airframe and drive train revealed no preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the main rotor gearbox and its associated chip detector did not reveal the presence of any debris or particles that could have triggered the detector and no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. However, the gearbox case was breached during the accident sequence, which liberated most of the oil and possibly any chips that might have been in the gearbox; therefore, it could not be determined what triggered the detector.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Dynamic rollover during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 4,850 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 20, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,546 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2013; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 1,546 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPOC La Verne CA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: KPOC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KBUR, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N915BW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR13FA264.