# Accident 19980621016829A: Robsin R22BETA, Freer, TX, June 21, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 21, 1998, 08:50 local time
- Place: Freer, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.1606° N, 98.0492° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1606&lon=-98.0492&mi=10
- Aircraft: N982SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N982SH-2001-07-11) (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 VO360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 180 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA278) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980621016829A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE 2,000 HOUR HELICOPTER PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND WHILE HE FLARED THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT WHILE HERDING CATTLE, A BULL SEPARATED FROM THE HERD AND THE PILOT TURNED THE HELICOPTER TOWARDS THE BULL TO GATHER HIM BACK INTO THE HERD. THE PILOT ADDED THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE BULL, HE FLARED THE HELICOPTER IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE TO STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AFTER THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE RIGHT SKID BROKE AS THE HELICOPTER SPUN 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE 1998 MODEL HELICOPTER HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 233 HOURS SINCE NEW. A COMPLETED NTSB FORM 6120.1/2 WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE NTSB BY EITHER THE PILOT NOR THE OPERATOR. (.19) SEE .19 FOR COMPLETE NARRATIVE

## 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 FTW98LA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA278), Jun 21, 1998: Robinson R22 Beta (N982SH), Freer, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor-ground clearance due to his improper flare while hovering.

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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