# Accident 19980331004859A: Robsin R22BETA, Riviera, TX, March 31, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 1998, 12:30 local time
- Place: Riviera, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.2796° N, 97.8092° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2796&lon=-97.8092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2628B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2628B-2001-05-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980331004859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TAIL ROTOR STRUCK GROUND WHILE HERDING CATTLE. HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED OVER.(.4) THE PILOT WAS USING THE HELICOPTER TO HERD CATTLE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE A BULL TOWARDS A CORRAL WHEN THE ANIMAL CHARGED THE HELICOPTER. AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO AVOID THE BULL, THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE WATER IN A STOCK TANK (POND), RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.  THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION.  THE HELICOPTER SPUN TWICE TO THE RIGHT, TOUCHED DOWN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE IN THE STOCK TANK, AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE.                                                 (-23) ON MARCH 31, 1998, AT 1315 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA HELICOPTER, N2628B, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY MESQUITE HELICOPTER SERVICES, INC., OF ALICE, TEXAS, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT CRASHED WHILE HERDING CATTLE NEAR RIVIERA, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED AND VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 LOCAL BUSINESS FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED TO AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR STRUCK TEH GROUND, AND THE HELICOPTER THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA163), Mar 31, 1998: Robinson R22 Beta (N2628B), Riviera, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while performing an evasive maneuver to avoid a charging bull, resulting in a tail rotor blade strike and the failure of the tail rotor drive shaft.…

## Other reports on N2628B (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19881001042589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881001042589A), Oct 1, 1988: Robsin R22BETA (N2628B), Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. During practice hover student allowed helicopter to descend. CFI took over late. Skid hit caused dynamic roll over.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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