# Accident 20010518008609A: Robsin R22, Tx, May 18, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2001, 10:00 local time
- Place: Tx
- Airport: Raymondville
- Damage: No damage
- Location: 26.4695° N, 97.7805° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4695&lon=-97.7805&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7087X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7087X-2023-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW01LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010518008609A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON MAY 18, 2001, AT 1000 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER, N7087X, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN FOLLOWING A LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR RPM WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR RAYMONDVILLE, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT AND HIS PILOT-RATED PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO THE PILOT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE LOCAL FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED A PRIVATE RANCH APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED BY THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN IN FLIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE RPM DECREASE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE "CLUTCH LIGHT" ILLUMINATED AND THE "LOW ROTOR HORN SOUNDED." THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION; HOWEVER, HE DID "NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE" TO CLEAR SOME TREES. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND "HARD." ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AND THE FAA INSPECTOR, WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT, THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM, THE LANDING SKIDS, AND THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM CONTACTING THE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE BELTS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE DRIVE WHEELS. (-23)ON MAY 18, 2001, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 CDT, A 1998 ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER, N7087X, OWNED AND PILOTED BY THE PILOT OF ^PRIVACY DATA O^ CRASHED IN A FIELD ON THE HACIENDA CAMPO ALEGRE RANCH 12 MILES EAST OF RAYMONDVILLE, TEXAS. THE R-22 HELICOPTER APPEARS TO HAVE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE IN THE CRASH.  AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE ON BOARD, THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITT^.  THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJURY TO PERSONS ON THE GROUND.  THERE WAS NO FIRE.  THERE WAS NO NMAC.

## 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 FTW01LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA124), May 18, 2001: Robinson R22 (N7087X), Raymondville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the main rotor drive belts while maneuvering which resulted in a loss of main rotor drive. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Other reports on N7087X (1)

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

- [Accident 20220326003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220326003309A), Mar 26, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (N7087X), Garnett, KS, Substantial damage. On March 26, 2022 at approx. 1630 local, N7087X experienced a dynamic roll over to the right during a hover maneuver on the ramp at the Garnett, KS airport…

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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