# Accident 20190108000159A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Uvalde, TX, January 8, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 8, 2019, 10:00 local time
- Place: Uvalde, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.2103° N, 99.7431° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2103&lon=-99.7431&mi=10
- Aircraft: N484AB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N484AB) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,650 total, 968 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190108000159A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 8, 2019 AT 1000 CDT, A ROBINSON R44  BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER N484AB, REGISTERED TO COEJO AVIATION LLC.  IMPACTED TERRAIN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TAKEOFF AT GARNER FIELD AIRPORT UVALDE, TX. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PERSONAL TRAINING FLIGHT. VISUAL METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED.

## 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 CEN19LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA065), Jan 8, 2019: Robinson R44 (N484AB), Uvalde, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The slipping of the sprag clutch due to galling of the sprags and corresponding sprag contact surfaces within the clutch assembly, which rendered the helicopter uncontrollable.

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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