No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident at Pelican, AK, 30 Aug 2021

Pelican, AK, United States

On August 30, 2021, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by HELICOPTER AIR ALASKA LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Pelican, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper preflight planning to ensure adequate power to hover out-of-ground effect while conducting external load operations. 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 improper preflight planning to ensure adequate power to hover out-of-ground effect while conducting external load operations.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Aug 2021 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident near Pelican, AK?

The pilot’s improper preflight planning to ensure adequate power to hover out-of-ground effect while conducting external load operations.

Were there any fatalities in the 30 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 30 Aug 2021 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, operated by HELICOPTER AIR ALASKA LLC, at Pelican, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s improper preflight planning to ensure adequate power to hover out-of-ground effect while conducting external load operations.