# Accident 20150716014379A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Fentress, TX, July 16, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 2015, 20:30 local time
- Place: Fentress, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7131° N, 97.7764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7131&lon=-97.7764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N804DF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N804DF-2019-11-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-540 series (registry code 17051, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,750 total, 1,745 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA232) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150716014379A

## Narrative

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

AFTER CONDUCTING A DOWNWIND MANUVERING TURN THE LOW ROTOR RPM ALERT CAME ON. DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER AND MADE A HARD LANDING FROM 20-25 FEET.

THE PILOT EXITED THE HELICOPTER (WITH ENGINE RUNNING) TO INSPECT FOR DAMAGE. HE NOTICED SKIN WRINKLING ABOVE THE REAR STRUTS.

THE PILOT THEN FLEW THE AIRCRAFT (WITH PASSENGERS ABOARD) TO HIS HANGAR APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES DISTANCE. AFTER ENGINE SHUT DOWN HE NOTICED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES.

## 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 GAA15CA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA232), Jul 16, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N804DF), Prairie Lea, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision with trees.

## Other reports on N804DF (2)

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

- [Accident 20170219001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170219001049A), Feb 19, 2017: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N804DF), Spofford, TX, Substantial damage. Airman hovered an R-44 helicopter inside a hangar with the intent of repositioning outside the hangar for a flight to another airfield. Aircraft rotor system…
- [Accident 20080705839879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080705839879A), Jul 5, 2008: Robsin R44RAVENII (N804DF), Spring Branch, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 5, 2008, at approximately 1600 CDT, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N804DF, sustained substantial damage when it landed hard after loss of tail rotor…

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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