Robinson R66 Turbine, N4488H, fatal accident occurred on May 29, 2026, near Dawsonville, Georgia

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4488H

- History of Flight:
On May 29, 2026, at about 2149 local time, a Robinson R66 Turbine, N4488H, registered to Pine Tours LLC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Dawsonville, Georgia. The pilot and one pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries, and one passenger sustained serious injuries.

The purpose of the flight was to fly the pilot-rated passenger and his wife from a celebration place (The Revere Wedding & Events Venue) in Dawsonville back to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK/KPDK), Atlanta, Georgia. The pilot-rated passenger was concerned about the accident flight and reportedly told the accident pilot "There is zero visibility and when there is zero visibility like this, we never fly." The accident pilot replied: "We will just fly at a higher altitude." (based on an interview with the passenger's father)

According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the helicopter departed PDK at 2100 and proceeded north towards Dawsonville, Georgia. The helicopter was flying at relatively low altitudes ranging from 1,400 ft to 1,900 ft. The helicopter reached the venue at about 2128. 

At 2145, the helicopter departed the venue and proceeded south to an altitude of 2,100 ft (terrain elevation at venue was 1,600 ft). At 2148, the helicopter continued south and had descended to 1,700 ft. At 2149:47, the helicopter was last seen at 1,700 ft, 109 knots groundspeed, and 770 feet per minute (fpm) descent over a large wooded area (see figures).

Figure 1: ADS-B exchange data

Figure 2: ADS-B exchange data ran through Google Earth, note earlier flight from PDK

Figure 3: End of track

- Pilot Information:
(1) Accident pilot:

Unknown.

(2) Pilot-rated passenger:

The passenger held an airline transport pilot certificate (last updated 6/16/2025) with a rating for airplane multiengine land and commercial privileges in airplane single engine land aircraft. The pilot held a type rating in the Canadair CL-65 (CRJ) jet. His first class FAA medical was issued on November 2025.

He was restricted to the following limitations:

• English Proficient.
• Restricted In Accordance With 14 CFR 61.167.
• Holder Does Not Meet The Pilot-in-command Aeronautical Experience Requirements of ICAO.
• ATP Circ. Apch. - Vmc Only.
• Cl-65 Circ. Apch. - Vmc Only.
• The Cl-65 Is Subject To Pilot-in-command Limitation(S).

- Aircraft Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number 0139, was manufactured in 2012. It was a five-seat helicopter powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C300 engine.

According to an old sale listing, the helicopter was equipped with the following avionics: 

"9-hole Panel (suitable for IFR training) Artificial Horizon w/Slip-Skid Directional Gyro Heading Indicator Turn Coordinator Garmin 430W Comm #2/VOR-ILS/GPS-WAAS w/Glideslope & Course Deviation Indicator King KY-196A Comm #1 Garmin 328 Mode S Transponder NAT AA12 Audio Control Panel & Intercom Digital Davtron Clock Vertical Card Compass"

According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH): "KINDS OF OPERATION LIMITATIONS"

VFR day and night operations are approved. VFR operation at night is permitted only when landing, navigation, instrument, and anti-collision lights are operational. Orientation during night flight must be maintained by visual reference to ground objects illuminated solely by lights on the ground or adequate celestial illumination.

- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The helicopter crashed in a heavily wooded rugged area. It took 6 hours to locate the survivor. Nothing else is known.

- Weather:
The reported weather conditions at KCNI at 2155 (about 6 minutes after the accident) included: Winds 210 at 3 knots, 2 miles visibility (visibility is between 1.5 and 3.5), rain and mist, a scattered cloud layer at 7,500ft AGL, an overcast ceiling at 10,000 ft AGL, temperature 21 °C, dewpoint 21 °C, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of mercury. There was also distant lightning from the northeast.

The reported weather conditions at KGVL at 2153 (about 4 minutes after the accident) included: Variable winds at 5 knots, 2 miles visibility, thunderstorms, rain and mist, few clouds at 5,000 ft AGL, a broken cloudlayer at 9,000 ft AGL, an overcast ceiling at 11,000 ft AGL, temperature 21 °C, dewpoint 20 °C, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of mercury.

(1) METARs:

METAR KCNI 300255Z AUTO 15003KT 2SM BR OVC005 21/ A3002 RMK AO2 VIS 1 1/4V3 1/2 LTG DSNT S

METAR KCNI 300235Z AUTO 17004KT 4SM -RA BR SCT014 SCT055 BKN110 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N

METAR KCNI 300215Z AUTO 19004KT 3SM -RA BR SCT055 SCT065 OVC100 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND S

METAR KCNI 300155Z AUTO 21003KT 2SM RA BR SCT075 OVC100 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2 VIS 1 1/2V3 1/2 LTG DSNT NE

METAR KCNI 300135Z AUTO 21005KT 5SM RA BR SCT007 SCT018 OVC110 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2

METAR KCNI 300115Z AUTO 22006KT 4SM TSRA BR BKN005 BKN009 OVC036 22/22 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE AND S

SPECI KGVL 300235Z AUTO 15005KT 3SM -RA BR BKN003 BKN055 OVC110 21/20 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND NW

SPECI KGVL 300217Z AUTO 15004KT 2 1/2SM -RA BR BKN003 BKN050 OVC100 21/21 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N

SPECI KGVL 300207Z AUTO VRB03KT 3SM -RA BR FEW005 BKN090 OVC110 21/20 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW

SPECI KGVL 300201Z AUTO 16005KT 2 1/2SM VCTS -RA BR FEW005 BKN095 OVC110 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW

METAR KGVL 300153Z AUTO VRB05KT 2SM VCTS RA BR FEW050 BKN090 OVC110 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2

SPECI KGVL 300145Z AUTO VRB04KT 2 1/2SM VCTS RA BR FEW009 BKN095 OVC110 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2

SPECI KGVL 300137Z AUTO VRB05KT 2 1/2SM VCTS RA BR FEW011 BKN075 OVC090 21/20 A3002 RMK AO2

SPECI KGVL 300129Z AUTO 16004KT 2 1/2SM RA BR FEW007 BKN025 OVC080 21/21 A3002 RMK AO2

(2) Area Forecast Discussion:

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
805 PM EDT Fri May 29 2026



...New 00Z Aviation Discussion...

.KEY MESSAGES...

  - Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms can be
    expected across the area through the beginning of next week.

  - Locally heavy rainfall will remain the primary concern in any
    thunderstorms given the continued moist environment in place.

  - Dry conditions expected by the middle of next week.


&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Saturday)
Issued at 206 PM EDT Fri May 29 2026

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms have begun to
develop across a line generally stretching from NW GA down through
east-central GA. This follows stationary front which has settled
across the area. So far today, convection coverage has under-
performed relative to previous model runs, allowing for greater
daytime heating and increased destabilization. Therefore expect a
slightly greater ratio thunderstorms to showers through the
afternoon.

Increased shower and thunderstorm activity will continue through the
evening as cyclogenesis develops the surface low to the southwest.
Increasing southwest flow will begin to push the front northward and
drive moisture across the area. Showers and thunderstorms will
continue through much of the overnight timeframe, though these may
come in waves, with intermittent off/on patterns. Precip chances
taper through the early morning before reinvigorating Saturday mid
day. Coverage during this time is highly uncertain, and will be
dependent on how far north the front pushes as well as the resultant
strength of the surface low. With forcing likely on the low side
tomorrow (low CAPE from cloud coverage and unimpressive synoptic
uplift), showers may be light and patchy tomorrow afternoon. Precip
likely tapers through Saturday evening/night (at least for north
Georgia). Sunday PoPs increase once again as sfc flow turns out of
the east, developing a wedge like pattern.

Total precipitation through the period will be a generally 0.5" to
1.5" across the area through Monday morning. Isolated higher amounts
are likely depending on where the strongest thunderstorms
(relatively) set up and if any training occurs along the stalled
front. Would not be surprised if some isolated areas received as
much as 2.5 to 3 inches (90th-95th percentile) through Monday
morning, though this will be the exception not the rule.

High temperatures will be in the low 80s through Saturday, though
greater cloud coverage may result in undershooting this. Sunday will
likely be cooler as the wedge develops and with increased cloud
coverage. Some areas may only reach the mid to low 70s on Sunday
(though central GA will be closer to 80).

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday morning through next Thursday)
Issued at 206 PM EDT Fri May 29 2026

Diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms expected to continue into
the beginning of the extended periods. By Sunday the over all South
to Southwesterly flow that has been over the area for the last week
or so will have turned more West to Northwesterly. This turn in the
overall flow doesn`t change much for the actual forecast as waves
begin moving across the region from the central plains versus the
Gulf. Showers and thunderstorms can be expected over a large
percentage of the CWA Sun and Mon with PoPs each afternoon in the
40% to 80% range. With this trend continuing, it will take less rain
to cause flash flooding concerns. Training thunderstorms during the
afternoon will continue to pose the biggest threat with rain rates
in the 2" to 3" per hour range. The models keep us in a very Wet
pattern through Mon night, but then things may dry out a bit.

There is a bit of good news possibly as both the GFE and ECMWF are
showing a high pressure ridge building south out of the Great Lake
states Tue bringing in a much drier airmass across the state for
Wed/Thu. This ridge does not push all the moisture out of the region
with some residual moisture still hovering across central and south
GA. The models have been showing this pattern for a few days now so
beginning to have more confidence in this actually occurring.
Keeping PoPs in the 20% to 30% range for Tues...with 15% or less for
Wed and Thu.

Temps stay fairly steady with highs in the upper 70s to middle 80s
and lows in the 60s to lower 70s.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 757 PM EDT Fri May 29 2026

Widespread SHRA is ongoing across the majority of north/central
GA, including all TAF sites except CSG. Scattered TSRA has
warranted a TEMPO at ATL through 01Z. Storms should diminish with
the loss of instability, though SHRA will linger through 05-06Z.
MVFR ceilings are forecast to develop by 06Z, with intermittent
IFR which is expected to become prevailing at 10Z. Ceilings will
be slow to improve through the morning, rising back to MVFR
around 15-16Z. After lesser rain chances during the morning,
scattered to numerous SHRA/TSRA will return by the afternoon. TSRA
will be most likely after 19Z on Saturday. SE winds of 5 kts or
less will become light and variable by 01-02Z and through much of
the overnight hours, becoming W/SW at 3-6 kts by 10-12Z.

//ATL Confidence...00Z Update...
Medium confidence on all elements.

King

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          66  82  61  73 /  80  70  40  40
Atlanta         67  82  65  75 /  70  70  40  40
Blairsville     62  78  57  71 /  80  70  20  20
Cartersville    66  83  64  77 /  70  70  20  40
Columbus        68  85  67  82 /  70  70  40  70
Gainesville     66  81  62  71 /  80  70  40  30
Macon           66  84  65  78 /  70  60  60  60
Rome            66  83  64  77 /  80  70  20  40
Peachtree City  66  83  64  76 /  70  70  40  50
Vidalia         68  86  67  80 /  60  60  70  70

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...SM
LONG TERM....01
AVIATION...King

- Additional Information:
According to the Robinson Safety Notice SN-26:

NIGHT FLIGHT PLUS BAD WEATHER CAN BE DEADLY 

Many fatal accidents have occurred at night when the pilot attempted to fly in marginal weather after dark. The fatal accident rate during night flight is many times higher than during daylight hours. 

When it is dark, the pilot cannot see wires or the bottom of clouds, nor low hanging scud or fog. Even when he does see it, he is unable to judge its altitude because there is no horizon for reference. He doesn't realize it is there until he has actually flown into it and suddenly loses his outside visual references and his ability to control the attitude of the helicopter. As helicopters are not inherently stable and have very high roll rates, the aircraft will quickly go out of control, resulting in a high velocity crash which is usually fatal. 

Be sure you NEVER fly at night unless you have clear weather with unlimited or very high ceilings and plenty of celestial or ground lights for reference.

According to the Robison Safety Notice SN-18 Issued:

LOSS OF VISIBILITY CAN BE FATAL

Flying a helicopter in obscured visibility due to fog, snow, low ceiling, or even a dark night can be fatal. Helicopters have less inherent stability and much faster roll and pitch rates than airplanes. Loss of the pilot's outside visual references, even for a moment, can result in disorientation, wrong control inputs, and an uncontrolled crash. This type of situation is likely to occur when a pilot attempts to fly through a partially obscured area and realizes too late that he is losing visibility. He loses control of the helicopter when he attempts a turn to regain visibility but is unable to complete the turn without visual references. 

You must take corrective action ~ visibility is lost! Remember, unlike the airplane, the unique capability of the helicopter allows you to land and use alternate transportation during bad weather, provided you have the good judgement and necessary willpower to make the correct decision.