Fatal Robinson R44 Raven II Crash Near Buchen (Odenwald)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On 17 October 2021, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter operated by a private pilot crashed into a wooded area near Buchen (Odenwald), Germany. The pilot, a 61-year-old holder of a Part-FCL Private Pilot Licence (Helicopter), departed from the airfield at Herzogenaurach at 12:06 local time with two passengers. The flight was planned as a local flight to Speyer, and the helicopter was fueled with 74.45 liters of AvGas 100LL. The aircraft, a 2008 model with serial number 12468, was registered to the pilot and maintained by a Part 145 organization in Mannheim. ## Sequence of Events and Witness Accounts Radar and GPS data indicated the helicopter followed its planned route westward, avoiding restricted areas. Around 12:48, the aircraft performed a figure-eight pattern over a field near Schweinberg. At approximately 12:55, witnesses between Stürzenhardt and Steinbach observed the helicopter flying straight toward them. They reported a sudden mechanical noise, followed by the rotor blades folding upward. The aircraft then appeared deformed and twisted, spinning approximately twice around its vertical axis before falling into the forest. ## Aircraft Condition and Maintenance The Robinson R44 Raven II is a single-engine, four-seat light helicopter powered by a Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 engine. The aircraft had approximately 1,924 total flight hours at the time of the accident. Its last airworthiness certificate was issued on 31 May 2021, and it underwent a major overhaul in 2020. The last 100-hour inspection was completed on 17 February 2021. The helicopter was released to service on 30 September 2021 after maintenance on the drive belts and battery. ## Meteorological and Navigation Data Weather conditions at the time were described as a pleasant autumn day with light high clouds and weak winds. The German Weather Service reported temperatures between 8°C and 10°C, with light cloud cover near the accident site. The helicopter was equipped with three GPS-based navigation systems: a fixed Garmin 430, an iPad running SkyDemon software, and a Moving Terrain MT-VisionAir X. All systems were active during the flight. ## Accident Site and Findings The main wreckage was located approximately 3 nautical miles northwest of Buchen, at an elevation of 485 meters (1,590 feet) AMSL. The helicopter came to rest in a normal attitude, but the fuselage frame was crushed, and the rotor mast housing was tilted backward. The main rotor gearbox was broken open on the front left side. Debris, including cockpit glass and instruments, was scattered up to 110 meters northeast of the main wreckage. The pilot's iPad and the Moving Terrain device were found in this area. ## Casualties and Response All three occupants—the pilot and two passengers—were killed. Two bodies were found at or near the main wreckage, while the third passenger, seated in the front left, was ejected from the aircraft and found 24 meters away. Witnesses extinguished a fire in the cabin area using powder fire extinguishers from a nearby construction trailer.