No fatalities

Helicopter Rolls Over During Repositioning Attempt

McMinnville, OR, United States

On September 20, 2012, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by HARRIS ROBERT G was involved in an aviation accident near McMinnville, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's aggressive takeoff maneuver, which resulted in a loss of control. 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 helicopter rolled onto its left side after the pilot attempted to reposition following an unsatisfactory landing. The pilot reported pulling up too aggressively, and no mechanical issues were found.

Accident Sequence

The pilot completed an hour-long sightseeing flight with two passengers and made an approach and landing to the helipad. Unsatisfied with the landing, the pilot lifted off to reposition and re-land the helicopter. Once airborne, the helicopter began spinning to the right, climbed to about 50 feet, and pitched up. The pilot rotated the throttle off, lowered the collective, and as the helicopter neared the ground, he pulled up on the collective. The low rotor rpm horn was sounding during the descent. The helicopter impacted the ground in a 30-degree left angle of bank, collapsing the left skid, and rolled over onto its left side. All occupants egressed through the right cabin door.

Pilot Statement

The pilot stated that he may have pulled up too aggressively when attempting to reposition the helicopter, precipitating the loss of control.

Inspection

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter and found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

Contributing factors

Pitch control — Not attained/maintainedLateral/bank control — Not attained/maintainedPilot