# Accident 20141229023359A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Marble Falls, TX, December 29, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 29, 2014, 15:20 local time
- Place: Marble Falls, TX
- Airport: Horseshoe Bay
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5264° N, 98.3592° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5264&lon=-98.3592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N174CD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N174CD-2015-03-24) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 13,973 total, 337 in this make and model, 76 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15CA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA093) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141229023359A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS LANDING HELICOPTER TO A CART WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND.  AS THE SKIDS MADE CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF THE CART, A GUST OF WIND MOVED THE HELICOPTER FORWARD.  IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN HOVER, THE PILOT APPLIED POSITIVE COLLECTIVE AND AFT CYCLIC.  THE AFT CYCLIC RESULTED IN THE TAIL STINGER CONTACTING THE CART SURFACE, CAUSING A FORWARD PITCHING OF THE HELICOPTER AND THE BLADES TO CONTACT THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE JUST UPWIND OF THE CART.

THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE OR FUEL SPILL.

## 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 CEN15CA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA093), Dec 29, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N174CD), Horseshoe Bay, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter's contact with the landing pad during a rejected landing.

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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