# Accident 20020628013599A: Robsin R44, Houston, TX, June 28, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 28, 2002, 10:15 local time - Place: Houston, TX - Airport: West Houston-Lakeside Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 29.7706° N, 95.6806° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7706&lon=-95.6806&mi=10 - Aircraft: N144WT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144WT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA197) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020628013599A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JUNE 28, 2002, AT 1015 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER, N144WT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE WEST HOUSTON AIRPORT NEAR HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO WILKINSON RENTAL TOOLS, INC., OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE PRIVATE PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE HELICOPTER, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS DESTINED FOR MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA. THE PILOT REPORTED TO AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF, HE "LIFTED" THE HELICOPTER VERTICALLY TO A 4-5 FOOT HOVER AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A 10 DEGREE LEFT PEDAL TURN TO A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. THE PILOT PUSHED FORWARD ON THE CYCLIC TO INITIATE FORWARD FLIGHT AND IN A "MATTER OF 10'-15', THE REAR PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID WENT DOWN ABRUPTLY." THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY ADDED FORWARD RIGHT CYCLIC TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS ACTION. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO LEVEL AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 2-3 FEET WHEN IT SETTLED "HARD" ON THE FRONT PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID. THE HELICOPTER CAME TOREST UPRIGHT ON ITS LANDING SKIDS. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR, WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE, A BROKEN TIE DOWN CHAIN WAS FOUND THAT HAD BEEN ATTACHED TO THE AFT PORTION OF THE HELICOPTER SKID. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD NOT PLACED THE TIE DOWN THERE THE NIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WAS WRINKLED WITH A TEAR IN THE LEADING EDGE. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE HAD DAMAGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORWARD SKID CROSS TUBE. THE MAIN ROTOR MAST FAIRING WAS BUCKLED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CABIN. (-23) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM AN ASPHALT PARKING AREA, THE AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT INTO A 4'-5' HOVER. FORWARD CYCLIC WAS APPLIED TO INITIATE FORWARD FLIGHT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10'-15' THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP AND LEFT. THE TAIL BOOM STINGER CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT TO A FAIRLY LEVEL ATTITUDE APPROXIMATELY 2'-3' ABOVE THE GROUND. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED HARD ONTO A GRASSY AREA NEXT TO THE PARKING AREA. POST EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE VENTRAL FIN WAS WRINKLED AND DEFORMED, THE S TINGER WAS ALSO BENT. THE LANDING GEAR APPEARED TO BE SPREAD WITH THE FORWARD LEFT AND RIGHT REAR ATTACH POINTS ON THE FUSELAGE DAMAGED. THE MAIN ROTOR MAST FAIRING SHOWED SIGNS OF COMPRESSION DAMAGE AT THE 10 O'CLOCK AND 2 O'CLOCK POSITIONS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CABIN ROOF. A PIECE OF BROKEN CHAIN MATCHING THAT AT THE TIE DOWN (PARKING AREA) WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND THE REAR LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AT A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 352 DEGREES. ## 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 FTW02LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA197), Jun 28, 2002: Robinson R44 (N144WT), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control after encountering dynamic rollover during takeoff. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.