# Accident 20101222054639A: Robinson He R44 II, Hemphill, TX, December 22, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 22, 2010, 14:20 local time
- Place: Hemphill, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.2353° N, 93.6878° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2353&lon=-93.6878&mi=10
- Aircraft: N841SA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N841SA-2018-01-26) (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: ROBINSON HE R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 200 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11CA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101222054639A

## Narrative

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

ON 12/22/2010 AT APPROX 2000 UTC HELICOPTER N841SA, A ROBINSON R-44 II WITH TWO PERSONS ABOARD ATTEMPTED TO HOVER PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FROM THE SHORELINE OF A LAKE.DURING HOVER IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRCRAFT TURNED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. THIS SPINNING ANDPITCHING ALLOWED THE TAIL ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH AND ROLL OUT OF CONTROL AND EVENTUALLY COME TO REST ON THE AIRCRAFTS LEFT SIDE IN 3 TO 4 FEET OF WATER.THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, MAIN ROTOR BLADES, ROTOR MAST, TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR.BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY.INVESTIGATION AT THE SCENE FOUND THE GOV CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS TRIPPED.

## 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 CEN11CA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA126), Dec 22, 2010: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N841SA), Hemphill, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper decision to carry an unauthorized passenger and the passenger’s loss of control of the helicopter during take-off.

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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