# Accident 20151113020609A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Alpine, TX, November 13, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 13, 2015, 16:57 local time
- Place: Alpine, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.1194° N, 103.6331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1194&lon=-103.6331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N449MC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N449MC-2017-07-31) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 4
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 735 total, 228 in this make and model, 286 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA039) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151113020609A

## Narrative

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

NOVEMBER 13, 2015, AT 1657 LOCAL TIME, ROBINSON R-44-II AIRCRAFT BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER N449MC, REGISTERED TO CONCHO AVIATION, LLC, IMPACTED TERRAIN AND STRUCK TWO TREES ON A PRIVATE RANCH.  THE LOCATION OF ACCIDENT WAS 16.15 NM BEARING 171 DEGREES SOUTH OF THE ALPINE-CASPARIS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (E38).  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A COMMERCIAL ANIMAL WILDLIFE SURVEY FLIGHT.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PART 91 FLIGHT AND VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THE TWO REAR SEAT PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE RANCH ON NOVEMBER 13, 2015, AT 1512 LOCAL TIME.

## 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 CEN16LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA039), Nov 13, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N449MC), Alpine, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor speed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a descent from which he was unable to recover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's…

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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