Robinson R44 N996NR
19 January 2026 · Parkman, Wyoming, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 19 January 2026 at about 16:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N996NR, operated by Native Range Capture Services Inc, was involved in an accident near Parkman, Wyoming, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Parkman, Wyoming, United States
- Coordinates
- 44.9353, -107.4603
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N996NR
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2006
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Native Range Capture Services Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Sheridan → Parkman
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR26LA083
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
The pilots’ failure to maintain separation while conducting air work in a common operational area. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ divided attention associated with the mission activity and unreliable radio communications.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Two helicopters were conducting low-altitude wildlife capture operations in mountainous terrain when they collided mid-air. Both helicopters were substantially damaged; the pilots and passenger were uninjured. The pilots and passengers briefed their operational plan prior to departing. The first helicopter (N74730) was assigned to a northern sector and would perform operations starting on the north edge of that sector, working south. The second helicopter (N996NR) was assigned a sector bordering the southern boundary of the north sector and would begin its operations at the southernmost portion of its assigned sector, working north. The pilots each planned to meet at a fuel truck located near the common border of the two sectors. The operational area was in remote terrain that included hills, canyons, and ridges. The mission required the helicopters to operate close to/at ground level and included periodic landings. Approximately one hour after operations began, both helicopters arrived in the same area near the sector boundary, where they continued to independently conduct the low-altitude operations. The pilot of the second helicopter had just dropped off his passenger to complete a wildlife capture and had become airborne again. Both pilots reported they were airborne and descending slightly, when the pilot of the first helicopter saw the other helicopter converging head-on. The pilot of the first helicopter quickly applied full up collective control to attempt to climb above the flight path of the converging helicopter, and as they passed the helicopters collided. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the tail section of the first helicopter. The pilots stated they believed the accident could have been avoided with better radio communication. Additionally, the pilots reported that the terrain’s effect on radio transmissions and the operational workload prevented continuous and unreliable communication between the helicopters; therefore, they relied on see-and-avoid techniques to ensure safe separation. The pilots of both helicopters reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson R44 II | N996NR | Native Range Capture Services Inc | Substantial |
| Robinson R44 II | N74730 | Native Range Capture Services Inc | Substantial |
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May 2026 | Robinson R44 | Pomerode, Brazil | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Jun 2026 | Robinson R44 | Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States | Sky Helicopter Tours | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Robinson R44 | Mount Blanco, Texas, United States | Concho Aviation LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Feb 2026 | Robinson R44 | Algés, Portugal | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 2026 | Robinson R44 | Hamilton Island, Australia | - | Unknown | - |
| 28 Mar 2026 | Robinson R44 | New Brunswick, Canada | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 2026 | Marshall Daniel R L-21 | Cody, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Maule M-5-235C | Jay Em, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 2026 | Dean J Irvin KFA SAFARI XL | Saratoga, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 2026 | Aeronca 7AC | Buffalo, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 2026 | Cessna 180 | Marbleton, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 2026 | Maule M-7-235B | Cody, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |