Robinson Helicopter Co R66 N6633L accident near Lakeville, Minnesota

Preliminary information

On September 6, 2025, about 1442 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R66 helicopter, N6633L was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.

The helicopter departed a farm near Jordan, Minnesota, about 1434 and was enroute to New Richmond Regional Airport (RNH), New Richmond, Wisconsin, when it impacted the ground near a cornfield and came to rest near railroad tracks and a rail car about 0.2 nautical miles northwest of Airlake Airport (LVN), Lakeville, Minnesota. A post impact fire ensued and destroyed the helicopter.

The impact heading was about 78° and the main wreckage came to rest on a heading of about 177°. Cornstalks preceding the initial impact site were cut at 45°. Most of the debris was contained to a 55 ft path between the cornfield and the rail car, consisting of the tail cone, empennage, tail rotor, fuselage, landing gear, and most of the main rotor; however, some pieces of the main rotor blades were found near the approach end of runway 12 at LVN, 610 ft beyond (southeast) the impact site.

Due to impact damage, the main rotor and tail rotor flight controls could not be functionally tested. The main rotor drive shaft was bent due to impact above the swashplate; however, the driveshaft could be moved slightly by hand confirming continuity from the input yoke through the main rotor driveshaft and the tail rotor output yoke. The tail rotor input yoke was rotated by hand with no anomalies.

A witness to the accident stated that the helicopter was flying straight and level and then it turned sharply to the right and the nose of the helicopter pointed toward the ground. It remained in that attitude until it disappeared behind a building, and she lost sight of it. Video surveillance near the approach end of runway 12 at LVN captured the helicopter impacting the ground in a nose low attitude on its ride side.

The helicopter was retained for further examination.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25FA367 for the full record.