# Accident 20150403003869A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Fort Davis, TX, April 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 3, 2015, 11:15 local time
- Place: Fort Davis, TX
- Airport: Private Ranch
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5208° N, 104.1342° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5208&lon=-104.1342&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8363D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-360-A1D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150403003869A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 3, 2015, AT 11:15 CDT, A ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER N8363D, WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT A PRIVATE RANCH APPROXIMATELY 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE TOWN OF FORT DAVIS, TEXAS .  THE PILOT REPORTED LANDING DOWNWIND NEAR A MOUNTAIN PEAK AND GOT SIDEWAYS EXPERIENCING AN UNRECOVERABLE DYNAMIC ROLLOVER.  THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE MANEUVER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT DOING PHOTOGRAPHY WORK.  VISUAL METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.  THE PILOT AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE SAME LOCATION AS THE LANDING ATTEMPT.

## 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 GAA15CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA032), Apr 3, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N8363D), Fort Davis, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during flight, which resulted in the helicopter impacting terrain.

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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