# Accident 20140915017089A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Beaumont, TX, September 15, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2014, 18:35 local time
- Place: Beaumont, TX
- Airport: Beaumont Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9508° N, 94.0206° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9508&lon=-94.0206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9844N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9844N-2018-03-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540F1 SERIE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 120 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14CA500](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA500) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140915017089A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS APPROACHING BEAUMONT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KBMT) RUNWAY 13. THERE WAS A C-172 WAITING TO DEPART THE RUNWAY. AS HE MANEUVERED TO A HOVER, THE C-172 ANNOUNCED THEY WERE DEPARTING RUNWAY 13. THE PASSENGER EXCLAIMED "SHE'S TAKING OFF!". THE PILOT BEGAN A LEFT PEDAL TURN TO SEE THE TRAFFIC AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST CONTROL, POSSIBLY DUE TO A WIND GUST THE PILOT BELIEVES, BUT IS NOT CERTAIN. THE HELICOPTER SPUN VIOLENTLY AND LANDED HARD TO THE WEST OF RUNWAY 13 AT THE MIDFIELD POINT.

TAIL ROTOR BOOM SPLIT AND APPEARED TO STRIKE THE GROUND; BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND WERE BENT IN EXTREME ANGLES. TAIL ROTOR BLADES BROKEN OFF. PORTIONS OF THE MAIN ROTOR CONTROL SYSTEM APPEAR TO HAVE SHEARED APART. RIGHT COCKPIT PLEXIGLAS BROKEN.

THERE WAS NO WEATHER IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, THERE WERE DISTANT STORMS SOUTH.

## 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 CEN14CA500](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA500), Sep 15, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N9844N), Beaumont, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss tail rotor effectiveness while attempting a taxiway side-step during landing. Contributing to the accident was another pilot's failure to ensure the runway was clear before occupying…

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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