No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident at Phoenix, AZ, 30 Sept 2021

Phoenix, AZ, United States

On September 30, 2021, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by Universal Helicopters was involved in an aviation accident near Phoenix, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn 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 student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn which resulted in a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Student/instructed pilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Sept 2021 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident near Phoenix, AZ?

The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn which resulted in a hard landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 30 Sept 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 Sept 2021 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, operated by Universal Helicopters, at Phoenix, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn which resulted in a hard landing.