Robinson R44 II N233JD

Summary

On 24 March 2026 at about 14:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N233JD, operated by Sulphur Creek Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Stonewall, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

24 March 2026 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Stonewall, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.1239, -98.7160

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N233JD

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Sulphur Creek Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN26LA148

2 people were seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On March 24, 2026, about 0930 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N233JD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stonewall, Texas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. According to the pilot, she conducted a normal preflight inspection of the helicopter and found no anomalies. She stated that the purpose of the flight was to use the helicopter to flush wildlife into an open pasture for observation. While in a hover, about 15 to 30 ft above the tree line, she heard a loud “pop” and felt the helicopter jerk. The helicopter immediately entered an uncontrolled descent into terrain. The pilot reported that the helicopter would not respond to inputs made with the anti-torque pedals. The pilot, passenger, and a witness reported hearing a loud “pop” from the helicopter before the sound of the engine went quiet. According to the passenger, the helicopter shook violently after the “pop” was heard and then rotated rapidly in a clockwise direction. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, the main rotor system, the tailboom, and the tail rotor system. The helicopter was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.