No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II NO SERIES accident at Hobbs, NM, 25 Mar 2025

Hobbs, NM, United States

On March 25, 2025, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II NO SERIES operated by FLAP AIR HELICOPTER SERVICE INC was involved in an aviation accident near Hobbs, NM. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s loss of directional control during a hover, which resulted in an 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 student pilot’s loss of directional control during a hover, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 25 Mar 2025 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II NO SERIES accident near Hobbs, NM?

The student pilot’s loss of directional control during a hover, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 25 Mar 2025 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II NO SERIES accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 25 Mar 2025 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II NO SERIES, operated by FLAP AIR HELICOPTER SERVICE INC, at Hobbs, NM.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot’s loss of directional control during a hover, which resulted in an impact with terrain.