N44KY

On March 9, 2025, about 2104 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R44 II, N44KY, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot was not injured, the two passengers sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 air tour flight.

The operator was performing tours of the Las Vegas Strip from its home base of North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) in accordance a 91.147 letter of authorization from the FAA (passenger-carrying flights for compensation or hire).

The pilot had performed 6 tours in the accident helicopter since coming on duty at 1830, the accident flight was his seventh.

With the passengers loaded, and the weight and performance calculations complete, the pilot closed his door and readied the helicopter for departure. He maneuvered the helicopter into a hover and pushed the cyclic control forward. The helicopter began to move forward, and as it reached about 25 knots, the pilot’s door opened. The pilot described the opening as abrupt and accompanied by a strong blast of wind that blew off his hat, headset, and headlamp.

The pilot reacted by releasing the collective control from his left hand and reaching across his body to close the door. He stated that the movement resulted in him applying a right cyclic input with his right hand as he reached across. This movement, accompanied with him releasing the grip on the collective control, resulted in the helicopter sinking. The right skid then contacted the ground, the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover, and the main rotor blades struck the ground. The helicopter spun around and came to rest on its right side. The pilot shutoff the fuel control, released his seatbelt, and helped the passengers egress. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged.