# Accident 20090425006759A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Kent, TX, April 25, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 25, 2009, 11:00 local time
- Place: Kent, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.0693° N, 104.2171° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kent, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0693&lon=-104.2171&mi=10
- Aircraft: N518SJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N518SJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,783 total, 1,820 in this make and model, 169 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090425006759A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON APRIL 25, 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 CDT, N5183SJ, A ROBINSON R-44 II RAVEN HELICOPTER,PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED UNDER CFR TITLE 14 PART 91, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN THE TAIL BOOM STRUCK THE GROUND IN A RURAL AREA APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES NORTH OF KENT, TEXAS.  THE PILOT AND 3 PASSENGERS ABOARD SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.  THE PILOT CIRCLED APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND (4375 FEET MSL), AND SLOWED TO 10 KNOTS WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO LOSE MAIN ROTOR RPM AND THE LOW ROTOR ALERT SOUNED MOMENTS AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN.  THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND IMPACETED THE GROUND TAIL FIRST DAMAGING THE TAIL ROTOR, SKIDDING APPROXIMATEY 20 FEET IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION.  THE HELICOPTER CAME TO A STOP PITCHING FORWARD ONTO THE NOSE DAMAGING THE FRONT PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID AND THE EXTERIOR NOSE SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED AS THEY SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER AND THE FLIGHT CONTROLS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM A PRIVATE RANCH ADJACENT TO XS44.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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