# Accident 20141024020519A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Harper, TX, October 24, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 24, 2014, 11:30 local time
- Place: Harper, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3067° N, 99.2475° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3067&lon=-99.2475&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7192K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7192K-2019-02-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15CA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141024020519A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT EVENT - PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER (GUNNER) WERE UTILIZING THE HELICOPTER TO CAPTURE GAME BY THE USE OF A NET-GUN.  WHILE DESCENDING INTO IN A RELATIVELY SMALL CLEARING, THE PILOT HEARD A "BANG", FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY.  THE PILOT INCREASED THE ALTITUDE WHILE TRYING TO UNSUCCESSFULLY REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROTATE ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS AND THE PILOT DIRECTED A DESCENT INTO THE NEAREST SPACE IN THE TREE-COVERED AREA.  THE HELICOPTER CONTACT THE GROUND IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE WITH A RIGHT YAW.  THE HELICOPTER REMAINED UPRIGHT.

THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE, AND NO INJURIES.

CAUSAL FACTORS - PILOTS LACK OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS REGARDING THE SIZE CONSTRAINTS OF THE CONFINED AREA AND THE CLEARANCE NEEDED TO KEEP THE TAIL ROTOR CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTIONS - PILOT, BY NECESSITY, NEEDS TO EXERCISE A HIGHER LEVEL OF CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO VEGITATION AND CONFINED AREA.  PERSONAL LIMITATIONS NEED TO BE ADJUSTED SO AS NOT TO OPERATE IN AREAS JUDGED TO BE MARGINAL IN SIZE AND TO BE LESS AGGRESSIVE IN THE MORE DENSELY VEGITATED AREAS.

COMMENTS - AIRMAN PROVIDED INFORMAL COUNSELING

## 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 CEN15CA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA025), Oct 24, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7192K), Harper, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering.

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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