# Accident 20210109004419A: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, Albany, TX, January 9, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 9, 2021, 10:10 local time
- Place: Albany, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7291° N, 99.2719° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7291&lon=-99.2719&mi=10
- Aircraft: N322SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N322SH-2022-10-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640123, 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 R44 II
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210109004419A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 9, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 1010 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER, N322SH, WAS

SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR ALBANY, TEXAS. THE PILOT AND TWO

PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

(CFR) PART 91 HOG HUNTING FLIGHT.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT WAS THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY AND THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF UNEVENTFULLY. ABOUT

120 FT ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED TEMPORARILY BEFORE IT LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE PILOT

PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO A FIELD. DURING THE DESCENT, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED TREES AND LANDED HARD

RIGHT SKID LOW. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED, AND SEPARATED, THE TAIL BOOM.

THE HELICOPTER HAS BEEN RECOVERED TO A SECURE LOCATION FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.

## 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 CEN21LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA109), Jan 9, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N322SH), Albany, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate pretakeoff checks which resulted in the magneto switch (key) remaining in the OFF position during the takeoff sequence and initial climb and the right magneto grounding…

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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