# Accident 20151005018309A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Devine, TX, October 5, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 5, 2015, 16:00 local time
- Place: Devine, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.1078° N, 98.9467° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1078&lon=-98.9467&mi=10
- Aircraft: N174CD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N174CD-2016-02-19) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 14,233 total, 83 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151005018309A

## Narrative

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

N174CD LIFTED OFF OF AN UN APPROVED RANCH AREA AND DIRECTLY CONTACTED OVERHEAD POWERLINES WITH THE ROTOR BLADES.

N174CD SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED THE GROUND AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR CUTS TO THE FOREHEAD AND LEFT WRIST.

## 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 GAA16CA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA006), Oct 5, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N174CD), Devine, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the takeoff, which resulted in the helicopter striking power lines.

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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