Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Auburn, Washington, June 18, 2022
On June 18, 2022 at about 11:23 pm local time, a 2013 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N944BC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Auburn, Washington (Auburn Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s loss of helicopter control and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action while providing hover training which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2022 · about 11:23 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Washington · Auburn Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2013
- Registration
- N944BC · no longer on the register · serial 13484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was providing initial flight training to the student. After completing hover and pattern work, they transitioned to a raised grass helicopter practice pad on the airport. After the student completed a successful set-down, the instructor asked him to lift the helicopter into a hover. As the helicopter lifted off the ground, it began to move aft, and the instructor applied forward cyclic. However, the helicopter continued, and he felt the right skid touch the ground. The helicopter then started to roll, and sensing that this could be the beginning of a dynamic rollover event, he reduced collective pitch control, however the helicopter yawed to the left and rolled over. The fuselage and tailboom were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter 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
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 530 hours in all; 132 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 5 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,349.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2022; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 1,379 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KSEA, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSEA 182353Z 22009KT 10SM FEW037 OVC050 16/09 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP178 T01610089 10172 20133 51007=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 3, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summaries | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Auburn Minimum Standards Rules and Regulations - Handbook Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.