Robinson R44 II accident near Ridgedale, MO
On August 29, 2008, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Ridgedale, MO. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 29, 2008
- Place
- Ridgedale, MO
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.500°N, 93.309°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080908X01405
Official records · DFW08FA218
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 29, 2008, at 1613 central daylight time (CDT), a Robinson R44 II, N41411, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Ridgedale, Missouri. The flight instructor and the second pilot, who were the only persons on-board, were fatally injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Central Illinois Air Corp. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a company flight plan had been filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The flight departed Shawnee Regional Airport (SNL), Shawnee, Oklahoma, at approximately 1420 and was destined for West Plains Municipal Airport (UNO), West Plains, Missouri. The helicopter was on a new aircraft delivery flight from California to the delivery destination in Illinois, and was en route to an intermediate stop to drop off the second pilot. Several witnesses were watching the helicopter in normal cruise flight when it suddenly nosed straight down in a 60 degree dive and impacted trees and terrain. There was an immediate post-impact fire. A witness in a small boat approximately one mile east of the accident scene was watching the helicopter and said it sounded like the helicopter was in normal cruise. While watching the helicopter she said “it looked to jump back while it was flying” then heard it make a different noise. As the sound got louder the helicopter went out of sight into the trees and all of a sudden the sound got louder and she heard a loud thud. She then saw the explosion. Her group went toward the accident site and helped direct other witnesse
Probable cause
An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.
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Browse: Missouri · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
