# Accident 20030825022539A: Robsin R22BETA, Ozona, TX, August 25, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 25, 2003, 11:15 local time
- Place: Ozona, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.6167° N, 101.0169° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6167&lon=-101.0169&mi=10
- Aircraft: N731BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731BA-2017-02-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 16,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA203) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030825022539A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON AUGUST 25, 2003, AT 11:15AM LOCAL TIME, N731BA, A R-22 ROBINSON HELICOPTER CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 16 MILES SOUTH OF OZONA, TEXAS ON A PRIVATE RANCH. PILOT LARRY W. HOLT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HOVER HE LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND HIT THE GROUND ON THE SIDE OF A HILL FROM APPROXIMATE 25 FOOT ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD MINOR INJURIES BUT WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER EVALUATION AND RELEASED THE SAME DAY. THE OPERATION WAS FAR PART 91 HUNTING WILD HOGS WITH A PERMIT ISSUED FROM THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DUE TO IMPACT. NO FIRES NOTED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 FTW03LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA203), Aug 25, 2003: Robinson R22 Beta (N731BA), Ozona, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to hover out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain.

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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