No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 accident at Morris, IL, 20 Dec 2020

Morris, IL, United States

On December 20, 2020, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 operated by TRI-B AIR LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Morris, IL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate pedal application during liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain. 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

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate pedal application during liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotYaw control — Not attained/maintainedDecision related to condition

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Dec 2020 ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 accident near Morris, IL?

The pilot's inadequate pedal application during liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Dec 2020 ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Dec 2020 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44, operated by TRI-B AIR LLC, at Morris, IL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate pedal application during liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain.