POLLUX AVIATION LTD
Also recorded as: POLLUX AVIATION LTD, Pollux Aviation Ltd, Polux Aviation
Accident & enforcement record
Events that happened, regardless of the operator's own reporting. Each links to its public source.
NTSB accidents & incidents
11 records, spanning 1994–2025.
Operated by POLLUX AVIATION LTD (per NTSB report)
The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing.
Operated by Pollux Aviation (per NTSB report)
Not yet finalized — may be revised.Operated by POLLUX AVIATION LTD (per NTSB report)
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during a descent, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Operated by POLLUX AVIATION LTD (per NTSB report)
The unmanned aircraft pilot’s failure to yield the right of way to the helicopter.
Operated by Pollux Aviation Ltd (per NTSB report)
The pilot's improper decision to land downwind from unsecured debris, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor disk ingesting foreign objects.
Operated by POLLUX AVIATION LTD (per NTSB report)
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the engine start sequence, which resulted in the helicopter sliding on a steel deck and impacting a crane. Contributing to the accident was the absence of traction material on the helicopter operations portion of the steel deck.
Operated by Pollux Aviation Ltd (per NTSB report)
The failure of ground personnel to ensure the helicopter was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to monitor the fueling process.
Operated by POLLUX AVIATION LIMITED (per NTSB report)
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a tailrotor strike.
Operated by Polux Aviation (per NTSB report)
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain while hovering in flat light conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his spatial disorientation and loss of control during a subsequent landing attempt. Factors associated with the accident are flat light and whiteout conditions, fog, and snow-covered terrain.
Operated by POLLUX AVIATION, LTD (per NTSB report)
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM. FACTORS WERE THE RAVINE AND THE TAILWIND.
FAA enforcement actions
No FAA enforcement actions linked to this operator.
Maintenance disclosure history
Service Difficulty Reports are self-reported maintenance findings. The NUMBER of reports is not a measure of reliability — diligent operators file more, not fewer. These are shown for transparency, not as a negative signal. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.
Reports span 2007–2019. Most-reported systems: ATA 85 — 3; Main rotor (62) — 2; Fuselage (53) — 1; Engine fuel & control (73) — 1; Ignition (74) — 1 (top 5 of 6 systems, covering 8 of 9 coded reports). Most-common natures of condition, as filed: OTHER — 5; FLUID LOSS — 1; PARTIAL RPM/PWR LOSS; VIBRATION/BUFFET — 1; VIBRATION/BUFFET; PARTIAL RPM/PWR LOSS — 1; WARNING INDICATION; VIBRATION/BUFFET — 1.
9 reports on file.
Part: INTAKE VALVE — FRAGMENTED (NR 1 CYLINDER) · airframe 2,978 hrs
THE PILOT HEARD/FELT A POP, HAD AN INCREASE IN VIBRATION, AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO A POWER ASSISTED LANDING IN THE TUNDRA, UPON LANDING SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SHUT DOWN AIRCRAFT. SAW OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED MAINTENANCE. UPON MAINTENANCE GETTING THERE, WE FOUND THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE #1 CYLINDER WAS MISSING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE VALVE STEM AT THE KEEPERS HAD BROKEN, AND LET THE VALVE FALL INTO THE CYLINDER. WE FOUND THE PARTS OF THE VALVE IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE. THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE HAMMERED.
Part: INTAKE VALVE — FRAGMENTED (NR 1 CYLINDER) · airframe 2,978 hrs
THE PILOT HEARD/FELT A POP, HAD AN INCREASE IN VIBRATION, AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO A POWER ASSISTED LANDING IN THE TUNDRA, UPON LANDING SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SHUT DOWN AIRCRAFT. FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE. OIL ON EXHAUST, SAW OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED MAINTENANCE. UPON MAINTENANCE GETTING THERE, WE FOUND THE INTAKE VALVE ON THE #1 CYLINDER WAS MISSING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE VALVE STEM AT THE KEEPERS HAD BROKEN, AND LET THE VALVE FALL INTO THE CYLINDER. WE FOUND THE PARTS OF THE VALVE IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE. THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE HAMMERED.
Part: TACHOMETER — FAULTY (DUAL) · airframe 4,557 hrs
DUAL TACHOMETER ROTOR NEEDLE RPM IS FAULTY.
Part: COOLING FAN — CRACKED (ZONE 100) · airframe 2,339 hrs
CLUTCH LIGHT WAS FLICKERING. WE HAD ONE OF THE COLUMN SPRINGS DE-TENSION WHILE WE WERE PERFORMING SHEAVE ALIGNMENT AND CLUTCH SHAFT ANGLE. TALKED TO RHC TECH SUPPORT, THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE CLUTCH COLUMN SPRINGS OUT OF CALIBRATION. WE REMOVED THE COOLING FAN WHEEL WHICH IS WHEN WE FOUND THE CRACKS IN THE FAN. RHC TECH SUPPORT AGREED THAT THESE CRACKS PROBABLY CAUSED THE FLICKERING CLUTCH LIGHT AND ALSO IN THE MAJORITY OF THESE EVENTS UN-CALIBRATES THE COLUMN SPRINGS. THIS AIRCRAFT ONLY HAS 138.7 HOURS ON IT SINCE OVERHAUL.
Part: BRACKET — SEPARATED (FAN SCROLL) · airframe 1,776 hrs
FOUND BRACKET A185-1 SEPARATED FROM LOWER SCROLL P/N C236-2 AND 1 OF THE UPPER BRACKET PART NUMBER A185-2 SEPARATED FROM UPPER SCROLL C236-1. THERE WAS ONLY ONE UPPER BRACKET HOLDING ON THE LOWER BEARING.
Part: POINTS — SEPARATED (LT MAGNETO)
SB-643, C/W, MAGNETO INSTALLED IN ACFT. ACFT FLEW 5.0 HOURS AT WHICH TIME, PILOT REPORTED A DEAD - CUT WHEN SELECTING THE LT MAGNETO ON THE RUN UP ON THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY. MAGNETO REMOVED AND FOUND THAT 1X TUNGSTEN DISCS HAD SEPARATED FROM MAIN CONTACT POINTS AND ENDED UP SITTING IN THE CONTACT POINTS COMPARTMENT CAUSING AN EXTREME CHANGE IN MAGNETO TO ENGINE TIMING. MFG NOTIFIED.
Part: PUMP — LEAKING (FUEL SYSTEM)
ENGINE MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM LEAKING WITH ONLY 1063.7 HOURS IN SERVICE. POSSIBLE FIRE DANGER. REPLACED PUMP. (K)
Part: INTAKE VALVE — BURNED (NR 4 CYLINDER)
DURING 100 HOUR INSP, NR 4 CYLINDER DID NOT PASSDIFFERENTIAL COMPRESSION TEST. REMOVED CYLINDER, FOUND INTAKE VALVE SEVERELY BURNED ON FACE AND SEAT AREAS. REPLACED INTAKE VALVE AND SEAT. REINSTALLED CYLINDER AND RETURNED TO SERVICE. INTAKE VALVES USUALLY ARE NOT A PROBLEM ON THESE ENGINES, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A LOW TT. (K)
Part: BEARING — LACK OF LUBE (CLUTCH)
CLUTCH MAKING UNUSUAL NOISES ON COAST DOWN. UPON REMOVAL THE BEARINGS IN THE CLUTCH FELT ROUGH AND DRY. COMPONENT RETURNED TO MFG FOR O/H. (K)
Linked aircraft
| N-number | Make / model | Year | Status | Link basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N121MR | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report | |
| N229CH | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2004 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N240RM | ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 | 2001 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designatorOperator named in NTSB report |
| N2622M | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 MARINER | 1982 | Valid Registration | Operator named in NTSB report |
| N3070S | ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA | 2007 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N355AS | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2003 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N4164Q | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2008 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N447PA | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2006 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designatorOperator named in NTSB report |
| N501GT | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2005 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N555EL | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2005 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designatorOperator named in NTSB report |
| N59FD | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2004 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N74367 | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2005 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N74381 | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2005 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N74435 | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2005 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designatorOperator named in NTSB report |
| N74496 | — | — | Operator named in NTSB report | |
| N7528Z | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2004 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N779DZ | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II | 2003 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designatorOperator named in NTSB report |
| N81191 | ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 | — | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designatorOperator named in NTSB report |
| N818XR | ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 | 2011 | Valid Registration | Matched by certificate designator |
| N962MD | ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 | 2016 | Valid Registration | Operator named in NTSB report |
Aircraft with earlier records under this certificate
Maintenance and accident records on this page also cover aircraft that are not in this operator's current FAA fleet list. Charter and management fleets change — owners switch management companies, sell, or export aircraft. Where the registry shows what became of a tail, it is noted below.
1 aircraft filed records under this certificate within the last two years but are not in the fleet list we hold — fleet lists can lag actual operations.