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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2013 · about 3:00 pm local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- Ocean Shores, Washington · Hogan'S Corner Airport · cases near this 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
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 12, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversations (Mechanics and Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Robinson Hydraulic Component Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Helicopter Examination | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N442FG: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE2A5 4,222 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Hogan'S Corner Airport · nearest airport
- Teufel'S Heliport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,633 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR13LA188.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.