Robinson R44 crash near Leksand, Sweden

An Elvanq AB Robinson R44 Astro (SE-JVF, manufactured 1997) was flying from Skavsta to Grene via Skeberg in Dalarna County. The pilot picked up two passengers at Skeberg for a fifteen-minute sightseeing flight. During the approach to land, speed was reduced and the helicopter suffered an unanticipated right yaw that developed into uncontrolled rotation around the yaw axis. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a forest clearing but the forest was too dense and the helicopter collided with treetops. The tail rotor and attachment broke off, the main rotor cut several treetops, and the helicopter fell 10-15 metres to the ground, hitting left-front cabin first. The front passenger was killed. The pilot and rear passenger suffered extensive injuries. The SHK found no technical defects. The cause was loss of tail rotor effectiveness as speed reduced to hover, with the tail rotor disturbed by main rotor downwash. An underlying cause was the pilot's low total flying hours combined with little recent flight experience, reducing ability to anticipate and react.