# Accident 20120609013149A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Santa Teresa, NM, June 9, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2012, 19:00 local time
- Place: Santa Teresa, NM
- Airport: Dona Ana County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.8803° N, 106.7031° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8803&lon=-106.7031&mi=10
- Aircraft: N744JS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N744JS-2017-05-04) (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 HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 236 total, 236 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA359) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120609013149A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 9, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 1900 MDT, N744JS, A ROBINSON R-44 HELICOPTER WAS DEPARTING SANTA TERESA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SANTA TERESA, NEW MEXICO (5T6) ENROUTE TO ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO (KROW).  DURING A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND,  ACCELERATED TO 35 KTS AND AT 20 FT AGL THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM LIGHT AND HORN CAME ON.   AT THIS TIME, THE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER SEAT,  TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM THE LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION.  HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE CONDITION AND HIT THE GROUND OFF AIRPORT.  ON IMPACT THE SKIDS WERE BROKEN OFF, THE MAIN ROTOR STUCK THE GROUND AND SEVERED THE TAIL.  WITHOUT THE ANTI-TORQUE OF THE TAIL, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE.INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: -     THE TWO PILOTS AGREED WHO WOULD  WOULD ACT AS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FOR THE TRIP. -THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 76 LBS UNDER GROSS WEIGHT ON A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE DAY WITH THREE PEOPLE AND BAGGAGE ABOARD.-THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT HOVERING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.  WITNESSES REPORT THAT AT LEAST THREE TIMES N744JS ATTEMPTED TO HOVER AND HIT THE GROUND.-THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON ANY SYSTEM.THE PIC AND TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED NO INJURIES.  THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 CEN12LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA359), Jun 10, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N744JS), Santa Teresa, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The sudden decrease in headwind during takeoff in a gusty wind and near a passing train, which resulted in a loss of lift and main rotor rpm. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to…

## Other reports on N744JS (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20161112022469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161112022469A), Nov 12, 2016: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N744JS), Stone Lake, WI, Substantial damage. The pilot was attempting to hover taxi from his property to the road for takeoff. The hover taxi was over a driveway and between 2 mature trees. Pilot stated…

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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