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Location:
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Cookeville, Tennessee
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Accident Number:
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ERA26LA048
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Date & Time:
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November 14, 2025, 08:14 Local
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Registration:
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N668TM
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Hard landing
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Injuries:
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4 None
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation
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Analysis
The pilot of the helicopter was performing air tour flights from a county fairground. While landing, and performing a pedal turn about 30 ft above ground level, the helicopter began descending at a rate of about 200 ft per minute. As the pilot initiated forward cyclic to position over the landing zone, the helicopter suddenly dropped from an altitude of about 10 to 15 ft, and landed hard on the skids, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the the helicopter that would have prevented normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate decent rate during approach, resulting in a hard landing.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Descent rate - Not attained/maintained
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Hard landing (Defining event)
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial
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Age:
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24,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 Without
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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May 27, 2025
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waivers/limitations
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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October 7, 2025
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Flight Time:
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191 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1.3 hours (Total, this make and model), 112 hours (Pilot In
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Command, all aircraft), 2.7 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1.3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Registration:
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N668TM
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Model/Series:
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R44
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2002
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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1228
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last
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October 31, 2025 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2400 lbs
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Inspection:
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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3557 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Installed, activated, did not aid
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Engine Model/Series:
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O-540-FLB5
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|
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in locating accident
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Registered Owner:
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On file
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Rated Power:
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260
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s)
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None
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Held:
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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SRB,1024 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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6 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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08:15 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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191°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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/
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Turbulence Type
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None / None
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Forecast/Actual:
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Wind Direction:
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Turbulence Severity
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N/A / N/A
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Forecast/Actual:
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.24 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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9°C / 6°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Cookeville, TN
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Cookeville, TN
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Type of Clearance:
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VFR
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger
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3 None
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Injuries:
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|
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Ground Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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4 None
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Latitude,
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36.159574,-85.507175(est)
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Longitude:
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Boggs, Daniel
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Additional Participating
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Michael Salas; FAA/FSDO; Nash, TN
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Persons:
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Original Publish Date:
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January 9, 2026
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Last Revision Date:
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Investigation Class:
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Class 4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202037
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.
The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.
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