# Accident 20120910022129A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Sheldon, TX, September 10, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 10, 2012, 15:45 local time
- Place: Sheldon, TX
- Airport: Baytown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7847° N, 94.9514° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7847&lon=-94.9514&mi=10
- Aircraft: N281RG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N281RG-2013-01-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (registry code 42314, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-J2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 700 total, 600 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12FA621](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA621) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120910022129A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY HELICOPTER SERVICES INC. AND WAS HIRED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY. AIRCRAFT REFUELED AT BAYTOWN AIRPORT AND RETURNED TO PIPEYARD TO CONTINUE PHOTOGRAPHY. WITNESS REPORTS INDICATE THAT AIRCRAFT WAS MANUVERING NORMALLY ONE MOMENT AND THE NEXT WAS DECENDING WITH A SPINNING MOTION. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED LEVEL WITH A HIGH RATE OF DECENT. THERE WAS A POST CRASH FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT, PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT. REVIEW OF ENGINE OVERHAUL RECORDS AND POST CRASH ENGINE TEARDOWN NOTED NO IRREGULARITIES AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN POST CRASH FIRE, UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES. WITNESS STATEMENTS IDICATE A POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT, UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF LOSS OF CONTROL WAS CAUSED BY AIRMAN COMPETANCE OR MECHANICAL FAILURE.

## 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 CEN12FA621](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA621), Sep 10, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N281RG), Houston, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter after a loss of engine power. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined because examination did not reveal any…

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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