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Student Pilot Experiences Hard Landing After Tailwind-Induced Yaw During Helicopter Practice

Shreveport, LA, United States

On July 19, 2010, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by Helieye LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Shreveport, LA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff, resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a subsequent hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot practicing 'sit downs and pick ups' in a helicopter experienced a hard landing after the helicopter yawed due to a tailwind, resulting in damage to the tail rotor, tail boom, and fuselage. No anomalies were found during post-accident examination.

Incident Overview

A student pilot was practicing "sit downs and pick ups" to a grass field. The helicopter sat down uneventfully, and the student pilot reduced power to chat with a friend. Shortly thereafter, the student pilot added power, ensured all engine instruments were in the green, and attempted a takeoff.

Loss of Control

The student pilot detected a tailwind and applied left pedal correction; however, the helicopter yawed to the right one full rotation before the student pilot was able to set the helicopter back down. The hard landing resulted in damage to multiple components.

Damage Sustained

During the hard landing, the horizontal stabilizer was bent, both tail rotor blades were damaged, the tail boom was wrinkled, and the fuselage was wrinkled on the right side.

Examination

An examination of the helicopter and its related systems, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed no anomalies.

Contributing factors

Student pilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained

Related events

Same aircraft family

  • 13 Sep 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (Chop Air LLC)
  • 11 Sep 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
  • 3 Sep 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA (Spitzer Helicopter LLC)
  • 24 Aug 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA (AMS Flight School)
  • 15 Aug 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
  • 13 Aug 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (Collin Johnson)
  • 9 Aug 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 (Cedar Ridge Aviation, LLC)
  • 2 Aug 2026 — Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (DK Aircraft LLC)
  • 20 Jul 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 (Cedar Ridge Aviation)
  • 18 Jul 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 (Helicrop LLC)
  • 18 Jul 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
  • 16 Jul 2026 — ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (D&p LLC)

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 Jul 2010 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident near Shreveport, LA?

A student pilot practicing 'sit downs and pick ups' in a helicopter experienced a hard landing after the helicopter yawed due to a tailwind, resulting in damage to the tail rotor, tail boom, and fuselage. No anomalies were found during post-accident examination.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 Jul 2010 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 Jul 2010 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, operated by Helieye LLC, at Shreveport, LA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff, resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a subsequent hard landing.

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