Robinson R44 II N6555C

Summary

On 27 February 2025 at about 14:45 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N6555C, operated by Kiwi Air LLC, was involved in an accident near Edgemont, South Dakota, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 February 2025 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Edgemont, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

South Dakota Game, Fish, and P (NONE)

Coordinates

43.3512, -103.7477

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N6555C

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Kiwi Air LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rapid City → Rapid City

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA105

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to properly identify the proper anchor point for the supplemental harness and the crew’s incorrect use of the restraint system structure as an anchor point, which resulted in the separation of the structure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to survey and capture elk and was operated with the pilot and a non-flight crewmember, the gunner. The gunner’s purpose was to tranquilize elk from the maneuvering helicopter as the pilot positioned the helicopter to match the speed of a target elk. The gunner, who was clipped into the helicopter with a safety harness, fell out of the helicopter while conducting the elk capture operation and sustained serious injuries. The pilot landed the helicopter without further incident. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the anchor point for the front passenger seat restraint system separated and was still attached to the gunner’s harness. Examination of the separation surfaces revealed deformation along the circumference of each end of the tubing. The gunner was not using the helicopter’s passenger seat restraint system when he fell out of the helicopter; rather, he was using a harness restraint system that was anchored to the vertical tube of the helicopter’s supplemental shoulder harness guide system. The pilot stated that the gunner selected and secured the anchor point for the harness before the flight and the gunner stated that the pilot selected and secured the anchor point. According to the helicopter manufacturer, the anchor point utilized for the harness was not designed to sustain side loads, which resulted in its separation and the gunner falling out of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.