# Accident 20160528007919A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Spring Branch, TX, May 28, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 2016, 17:20 local time
- Place: Spring Branch, TX
- Airport: Kestrel Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.5025° N, 98.2439° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5025&lon=-98.2439&mi=10
- Aircraft: N921ES, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N921ES-2019-04-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-A1A5 (registry code 41634, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-a1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-A1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,928 total, 650 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA283) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160528007919A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER LANDED AT KESTREL AIRPARK SPRING BRANCH , TEXAS FOR REFUEL STOP. AFTER REFUEL, PILOT BEGAN HIS TAXI FOR DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 12.WHILE EXITING REFUEL AREA TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH LIGHT POLE NEXT TO REFUEL STATION. TAIL ROTOR WAS SEVERED FROM HELICOPTER BOOM CAUSING HELICOPTER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH ONTO PAVEMENT ADJACENT TO REFUEL STATION. HELICOPTER SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR CUT TO RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL HOSPITAL AND WAS RELEASED LATER THAT EVENING. AIRCRAFT HAD FULL FUEL LOAD. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 GAA16CA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA283), May 28, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N921ES), Spring Branch, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering in gusting tailwind conditions, resulting in the tailboom striking a light pole and impact with 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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