Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Ocean Shores, Washington, April 12, 2013
On April 12, 2013 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2004 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N442FG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Ocean Shores, Washington (Hogan'S Corner Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ loss of helicopter control during the approach to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2013 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ocean Shores, Washington · Hogan'S Corner Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2004
- Registration
- N442FG · no longer on the register · serial 10444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During most of the flight, the right-seat pilot was the flying-pilot. As the flight approached the destination airport, the left-seat pilot assumed authority of the helicopter's flight controls and noted that the wind was calm. The pilot then maneuvered the helicopter from about 20 ft above ground level toward the intended touchdown zone. The pilot subsequently lost control of the helicopter; he stated that the flight controls felt "mushy" and unresponsive. The other pilot unsuccessfully attempted to help him regain control, and the helicopter subsequently descended near-vertically and landed hard. An examination of the hydraulic servos, reservoir, and pump and the flight control system revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,300 hours in all; 450 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 18, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2013; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE2A5 (piston); 470 hours total
- Operator: Oregon Roses INC
The flight
- Departed from: 50OG Forest Grove OR at 1:45 pm
- Destination: 5WA8 Ocean Shores WA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:02 pm from HQM, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.