# Accident 20090225001419A: Robsin R22BETA, O'Donnel, TX, February 25, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 25, 2009, 13:45 local time
- Place: O'Donnel, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.9203° N, 101.0761° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9203&lon=-101.0761&mi=10
- Aircraft: N387AC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N387AC-2018-02-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 16,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA180) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090225001419A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 25, 2009, AT APPROXIMATLEY 1345 CST, DURING OGE HOVERING WHILE HUNTING FERAL HOGS, THE ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER LOST MAIN ROTOR BLADE RPM AND COULD NOT HOLD ALTITUDE DUE TO HEAVY LOAD, HIGH ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURES, AND NO WIND CONDITIONS.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND ON ITS LEFT SIDE.  THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY, THEN THE AURAL LOW ROTOR WARNING CAME ON.  THE HELICOPTER COULD NOT SUSTAIN A HOVER AND HIT THE GROUND COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED AND THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED JUST AFT TO THE FUSELAGE.  NO INJURIES WERE RECEIVED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.  THE ACCOMPANYING PASSENGER SUSTAINED A MINOR BRUISE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS FOREHEAD.

## 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 CEN09CA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA180), Feb 25, 2009: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N387AC), O'Donnell, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control while performing a quick stop maneuver to an out of ground effect (OGE) hover. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude and near calm wind…

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.