No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident at Gonzales, LA, 21 Aug 2021

Gonzales, LA, United States

On August 21, 2021, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by Down River Aviation LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Gonzales, LA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s inadvertent collision with a tree while landing at night which resulted in a 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

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent collision with a tree while landing at night which resulted in a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Aug 2021 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident near Gonzales, LA?

The pilot’s inadvertent collision with a tree while landing at night which resulted in a hard landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Aug 2021 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 21 Aug 2021 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, operated by Down River Aviation LLC, at Gonzales, LA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s inadvertent collision with a tree while landing at night which resulted in a hard landing.