Robinson Helicopter Co R66

Aircraft Manufacturer: Robinson Helicopter Co

Model: R66

About the Robinson Helicopter Co R66

The R66 is the most-registered model in Robinson Helicopter's active lineup. It accounts for nearly all of Robinson's active registered fleet, about 99 percent.

About a third of the R66 records ever held on the U.S. registry have since been deregistered, and more than 100 airframes have been removed.

Measured over the type's FAA-registration exposure, the R66 records about 8.1 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. It shows a higher accident rate than most comparable types in its cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range. Of 30 recorded R66 accidents, 9 were fatal.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Robinson Helicopter Co
Manufacturer Serial Number 7640130
Model R66
Category Land
Aircraft Type Rotorcraft
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Turbo-shaft
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 5 seats
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Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

97%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


23 exact, 6 recovered, 1 provisional

Methodology
30
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


9 fatal accidents.

30.0% of recorded accidents were fatal.

421
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


3,655 (± 184)

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
13.5%
Exposure
10.9%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.

2011 – 2026 Total 30
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 30 observed): 2011 1, 2013 1, 2014 2, 2016 3, 2017 1, 2019 3, 2020 2, 2021 9, 2022 1, 2025 5, 2026 2. 3 6 9 12 0 1 '11 1 '13 2 '14 3 '16 1 '17 3 '19 2 '20 9 '21 1 '22 6 '25 6 '26
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

8 categories Total 30
Maneuvering 11
Enroute 7
Landing 5
Takeoff 2
Unknown 2
Standing 1
Taxi 1
Approach 1
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 69
Personnel issues 29
Environmental issues 19
Aircraft 18
Not determined 3
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 30
None 16
Fatal 9
Serious 3
Minor 2

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (21)· 137 (9)· 135 (3)· NUSN (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 30 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Arlington, TX N4059A Substantial None Taxi Aircraft, Personnel issues
Graford, TX N940BH Substantial None Landing unknown
Ekalaka, MT N67GA Substantial Fatal Enroute unknown
Lakeville, MN N6633L Destroyed Fatal unknown unknown
Maynard, IA N88911 Substantial None Maneuvering unknown
Tukwila, WA N23UP Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Valparaiso, FL N633AF Substantial Minor Maneuvering unknown
Millville, MN N641RZ Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Delta, MO N266RK Substantial Minor Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Reynoldsville, IL N166LW Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Colusa, CA N7000J Destroyed Fatal Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues
Merry, NE N857TL Substantial Serious Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Waxhaw, NC N7078V Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Palmyra, PA N577DD Substantial Serious Landing Personnel issues
Duson, LA N49XB Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft
Kodiak, AK N1767 Destroyed Fatal Enroute Not determined
Knoxville, TN N660TN Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
Pikeville, NC N4QW Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Mechanicsburg, PA N450MC Destroyed Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft, Not determined
Alexandria, LA N661CG Substantial None Landing Personnel issues
Vandalia, IL N1767L Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
St Jacob, IL N766WC Substantial Serious Maneuvering Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Canon City, CO N778TL Substantial None Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Wikieup, AZ N117TW Destroyed Fatal Enroute Aircraft, Environmental issues
Beaumont, TX N38SL Substantial None Prior to flight Personnel issues, Aircraft

Page 1 of 2 (showing accidents 1–25 of 30).

Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.