# Accident 20180213002579A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Wadsworth, TX, February 13, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 13, 2018, 10:20 local time
- Place: Wadsworth, TX
- Airport: Bay City Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.7817° N, 95.9303° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7817&lon=-95.9303&mi=10
- Aircraft: N843SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N843SH-2020-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 287 total, 287 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA129) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180213002579A

## Narrative

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

PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE HUNTING WILD HOGS ON PRIVATE LAND.  PILOT LANDED AIRCRAFT NEAR ABANDONED FARM HOUSE.  PILOT AND PASSENGER TOOK BACK OFF FROM REMOTE LOCATION. WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET OFF THE GROUND THE PASSENGER GOT THE BUTT OF HIS RIFLE INTO THE CYCLIC AND PITCHED THE HELICOPTER FORWARD.  PILOT STATED HE YELLED AT THE PASSENGER TO MOVE THE RIFLE. THE PASSENGER FROZE UP WHEN HE SAW THE HELICOPTER GOING DOWN. HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND,  ROLLED OVER THEN CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND BENT BACK.  TAIL BOOM BROKE OFF AND TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX SEPARATED FROM BOOM.  ALL WINDOWS BUSTED OUT DURING ROLL OVER.  FUSELAGE BENT, SKIDS SEPARATED FROM HELICOPTER. INSTRUMENT PANEL BROKE FROM MOUNTS.

## 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 GAA18CA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA129), Feb 13, 2018: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N843SH), Wadsworth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger’s gun becoming lodged in the flight controls during takeoff and his failure to remove it, which resulted in 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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