What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 15, 2008, central daylight time, a single engine Robinson R22 beta helicopter, N489TJ was substantially damaged following loss of power 5 miles from take off from a private strip. Accident impact site was 2 miles east of hwy 281 & 1/4 mile south of hwy 71, burnett county, Texas. The CFI was conducting a flight review for the pilot. The CFI requested the pilot to demonstrate an engine out procedure. During the engine out demonstration the CFI told the pilot to recover at 200' AGL. After applying power the CFI noticed the engine tach did not respond. The CFI took over the controls passing through 100' AGL. At approximately 30 to 40 feet the CFI flared avoiding a tree line and impacted the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The helicopter sustained main rotor damage, tail rotor severed; tail rotor driveshaft departed through the side of the boom and the engine firewall was damaged. No injuries were reported and daylight VFR conditions prevailed. Note: see the CFI statement for events leading up to impact and photographs of helicopter damage as part of this investigation package.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 15, 2008, CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A SINGLE ENGINE ROBINSON R22 BETA HELICOPTER, N489TJ WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING LOSS OF POWER 5 MILES FROM TAKE OFF FROM A PRIVATE STRIP. ACCIDENT IMPACT SITE WAS 2 MILES EAST OF HWY 281 & 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF HWY 71, BURNETT COUNTY, TEXAS. THE CFI WAS CONDUCTING A FLIGHT REVIEW FOR THE PILOT. THE CFI REQUESTED THE PILOT TO DEMONSTRATE AN ENGINE OUT PROCEDURE. DURING THE ENGINE OUT DEMONSTRATION THE CFI TOLD THE PILOT TO RECOVER AT 200' AGL. AFTER APPLYING POWER THE CFI NOTICED THE ENGINE TACH DID NOT RESPOND. THE CFI TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS PASSING THROUGH 100' AGL. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 FEET THE CFI FLARED AVOIDING A TREE LINE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE IMPACT RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED MAIN ROTOR DAMAGE, TAIL ROTOR SEVERED; TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT DEPARTED THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE BOOM AND THE ENGINE FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND DAYLIGHT VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NOTE: SEE THE CFI STATEMENT FOR EVENTS LEADING UP TO IMPACT AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF HELICOPTER DAMAGE AS PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION PACKAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.