# Accident 20180617015569A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Sterling City, TX, June 17, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 2018, 10:00 local time
- Place: Sterling City, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.8331° N, 100.9808° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8331&lon=-100.9808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N410MM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N410MM-2018-10-17) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18CA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18CA294) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180617015569A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 4, 2018, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 CDT, N410MM, AN R-22BETA HELICOPTER WAS LEFT IDLING IN A FIELD NEAR STERLING CITY, TEXAS. THE PILOT EXITED THE RUNNING HELICOPTER THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE WITHOUT THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS. HELICOPTER?S COLLECTIVE BEGAN TO CREEP UP, INCREASING BOTH PITCH AND THROTTLE,  CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO RISE TO STAND UP ON ITS TAIL BOOM THEN STRIKING THE MAIN ROTOR WHEN IT FELL TO THE GROUND.  ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO FAA UNTIL JULY 24, 2018, AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 4, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 CDT.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE RANCH NEAR STERLING CITY, TEXAS.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.

## 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 CEN18CA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18CA294), Jun 17, 2018: Robinson R22 (N410MM), Sterling City, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to exit the helicopter without shutting down the engine, which allowed the collective/throttle to increase and resulted in a loss of control of the unattended helicopter.

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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