On 9 Jun 2019, a ROBINSON R44 II operated by HENDRICKS AVIATION LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Lebanon, MO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot mistook the right yaw for a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have applied pedal corrections instead. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter yawed right during vertical descent from 20 feet, leading to a hard landing that caused substantial damage to the cabin assembly. The pilot reported no mechanical failures.
Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported that during a vertical descent into a privately-owned field surrounded by trees and two buildings, approximately 20 feet above the ground, the helicopter yawed to the right. The pilot then lowered the collective, and the helicopter continued to yaw to the right, descended, and landed hard on the field.
Damage Assessment
The helicopter manufacturer reported that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin assembly as a result of the hard landing.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He added that he mistook the right yaw for a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have instead applied pedal corrections.
Probable cause
The pilot mistook the right yaw for a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have applied pedal corrections instead.
Contributing factors
Descent rate — Not attained/maintainedYaw control — Not attained/maintainedPilot
Related events
Same aircraft family
28 Mar 2026 — ROBINSON R44
12 Mar 2026 — ROBINSON R44 II
19 Feb 2026 — ROBINSON R44
15 Feb 2026 — ROBINSON R44 II
25 Jan 2026 — ROBINSON R44
20 Jan 2026 — ROBINSON R44
17 Jan 2026 — ROBINSON R44 II
7 Jan 2026 — ROBINSON R44
29 Dec 2025 — ROBINSON R44
4 Dec 2025 — ROBINSON R44
29 Nov 2025 — ROBINSON R44 II
30 Oct 2025 — ROBINSON R44 II (KUKI HELICOPTER SALES LTD)