# Accident 20070912020579A: Robsin R22BETA, Fort Stockton, TX, September 12, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2007, 14:20 local time
- Place: Fort Stockton, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.3639° N, 103.0194° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3639&lon=-103.0194&mi=10
- Aircraft: N993KC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N993KC-2018-03-16) (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: 13,967 total, 3,428 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW07LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA197) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070912020579A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 1420 CDT, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A DECREASE IN MAIN ROTOR RPM BELOW 80%, IN N993KC, A ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER, MANUFACTURED IN 1999. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 3.3 EAST OF FM 1776 AND 2 MILES NORTH OF HIGHWAY 235, APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS. THE RIGHT SKID APPARENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND FIRST CAUSING IT TO SHATTER. THE LEFT SKID WAS ALSO DAMAGED LEAVING THE HELICOPTER RESTING FLAT ON THE GROUND IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE FUSELAGE WAS DESTROYED. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE HELICOPTER INDICATED ONE OF THE V-BELTS HAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE OTHER REMAINING BELT TO SLIP OFF THE UPPER SPINDLE. THIS APPARENTLY CAUSED A RAPID DECREASE IN ROTOR RPM, WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WITH A BROKEN VERTEBRAE AND BROKEN RIBS. HE WAS AIR LIFTED TO ODESSA MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND LATER RELEASED.

## 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 DFW07LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA197), Sep 12, 2007: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N993KC), Fort Stockton, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the v-belt drive system to the main rotor for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was insufficient altitude to perform a successful autorotation.

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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