Robinson R44 accident near Williamsburg, VA
On July 8, 2018, a Robinson R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Williamsburg, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 8, 2018
- Place
- Williamsburg, VA
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.288°N, 76.729°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180708X12242
Official records · ERA18FA187
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 8, 2018, about 1633 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44-II, N616HS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Williamsburg, Virginia. The pilot and one person on the ground were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had flown from Stafford Regional Airport (RMN), Stafford, Virginia, to Williamsburg Jamestown Airport (JGG), Williamsburg, Virginia, earlier that morning to attend a meeting at JGG. Airport personnel reported that the helicopter had been refueled to capacity before the pilot departed on the return flight to RMN. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the helicopter departed JGG about 1630, then turned north. The helicopter climbed to a pressure altitude about 1,700 ft. After reaching 1,700 ft, the helicopter leveled off and the groundspeed increased from about 60 knots to about 110 knots over the next 1.5 minutes. The helicopter then entered a right, decreasing-radius, turning descent that continued until tracking coverage was lost. At the last recorded position, the helicopter was in the vicinity of the accident site, descending at a rate greater than 10,000 ft per minute. Several witnesses near the accident site described the helicopter as flying low; one estimated its height about 100 ft above the ground as it approached a two-story condominium complex. They described it as flying relatively straight and level, or slightly descending, before suddenly pitching nose down and descending into the roof of the buildi
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to safely operate the helicopter due to his impaired cognitive and physical abilities, which resulted in a loss of control.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · 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.
