# Accident 20220820014859A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Delmita, TX, August 20, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 20, 2022, 19:30 local time
- Place: Delmita, TX
- Airport: Ranch Helipad
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.7261° N, 98.3681° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7261&lon=-98.3681&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4447A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4447A) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA400) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220820014859A

## Narrative

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

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

## 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 CEN22LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA400), Aug 21, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4447A), San Isidro, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to conduct an autorotation with a tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage.

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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