# Accident 20100704041999A: Robinson He R44 II, Austin, TX, July 4, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2010, 13:30 local time
- Place: Austin, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.4081° N, 97.8764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4081&lon=-97.8764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N74546, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74546-2012-09-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HE R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,549 total, 1,325 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10CA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA369) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100704041999A

## Narrative

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

THE HELICOPTER PILOT PERFORMED A MAX POWER CLIMB OUT DURING WHICH TIME HE HEARD NOISE FROM THE RIGHT DOOR AREA. REACHING FOR THE DOOR ACROSS HIS BODY WITH HIS LEFT HAND, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT. TO AVERT CONTACT WITH A HANGAR TO HIS RIGHT HE DIVERTED TO THE LEFT STRIKING A TREETOP CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO SINK. THIS CAUSED CONTACT WITH A SECOND TREE AND UNTIMATELY A HARD CONTACT LANDING.

## 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 CEN10CA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA369), Jul 4, 2010: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N74546), Austin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter, resulting in impact with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to ensure the door was properly secured…

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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