# Accident 20140214001559A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Ivanhoe, TX, February 14, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 14, 2014, 15:13 local time
- Place: Ivanhoe, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8219° N, 96.1192° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8219&lon=-96.1192&mi=10
- Aircraft: N494SH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N494SH) (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 HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 890 total, 370 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14CA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140214001559A

## Narrative

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

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME AND WITH THE HELICOPTER POSITIONED UPWIND, THE PILOT BEGAN FLYING CROSSWIND OVER A TREE LINE WHILE DESCENDING TO ABOUT 10-15 FEET AGL STOPPING THE DESCEND AND FORWARD SPEED TO MAKE A LEFT PEDAL TURN WITH MINIMUM GROUND SPEED.  WHEN THE PILOT STABLIZED IN A STATIONARY DOWNWIND HOVER FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS WITH APPROXIMZTELY HALF CYCLIC, THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY PITCHED FORWARD, WITH OUT CYCLIC INPUT, AND STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND DESCEND.  FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE LOSING MORE ALTITUDE.  WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT WITH FULL AFT CYCLIC NOR THE DESCEND BY ADDING POWER TO THE RED LINE, HE DECIDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN IN TO THE WIND WITH RIGHT PEDAL AND CYCLIC.  EVERYTHING HAPPENED IN ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS IN WHICH FURTHER ALTITUDE WAS LOST.  IN A CROSSWIND PATH THE RIGHT SKID CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND FIRST AND THEN THE LEFT SKID AFTER WHICH THE HELICOPTER FLIPPED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.  IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THE ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND, THE PILOT LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER.

## 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 CEN14CA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA142), Feb 14, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N494SH), Bonham, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate recovery from a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during a low altitude downwind hover in a gusty wind condition resulting in the helicopter contacting the ground and rolling…

## Other reports on N494SH (1)

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

- [Accident 20230306001419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230306001419A), Mar 6, 2023: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N494SH), Port O'Conner, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On March 6th, 2023 at approx. 10:00PM CST, an R-44-II [privacy data omitted], landed hard with resulting fire and breakup on what was believed to be a personal…

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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