What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative:
On August 20, 2022, a Robinson R44 ii helicopter, privacy data omitted, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near san isidro, Texas, FAA iic note: the Ranch Helipad is located in Delmita Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The rotorcraft was operated as a title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 personal flight.
The pilots statement to NTSB:
privacy data omitted Was the pilot-in-command of the helicopter at the time of the accident. He stated that he had been practicing auto-rotations and this was his last one. He had changed directions for this one and believes he had a tailwind. After starting the maneuver, he was unable to get the
Engine RPM to come back and attempted to increase the throttle, but there was not enough time before the helicopter impacted the ground. He stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter
And believed the hand landing was the result of a tailwind.
End of interview
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE:
ON AUGUST 20, 2022, A ROBINSON R44 II HELICOPTER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR SAN ISIDRO, TEXAS, FAA IIC NOTE: THE RANCH HELIPAD IS LOCATED IN DELMITA TEXAS. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE ROTORCRAFT WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT.
THE PILOTS STATEMENT TO NTSB:
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN PRACTICING AUTO-ROTATIONS AND THIS WAS HIS LAST ONE. HE HAD CHANGED DIRECTIONS FOR THIS ONE AND BELIEVES HE HAD A TAILWIND. AFTER STARTING THE MANEUVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE
ENGINE RPM TO COME BACK AND ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THE THROTTLE, BUT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME BEFORE THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE HELICOPTER
AND BELIEVED THE HAND LANDING WAS THE RESULT OF A TAILWIND.
END OF INTERVIEW
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.