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20230110000379A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Fowlerton, TX · January 10, 2023

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
January 10, 2023 · 12:45 local
Place
Fowlerton, TX
Phase of flight
Other, Specify
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N811S
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN23LA086
Reported as
Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine
Lycoming O-540 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours
36,920 total128 in the last 90 days
N811SRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 30072 · Built 2020Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44Engine modelLycoming O-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot was herding cattle. One steer attempted to break from herd. Pilot turned helicopter to cut off warward steer. Heard a bang and lost tailrotor authority and lost control of aircraft. It rotated one and half times while skids hit the ground. Main rotors impacted the ground. Aircraft came to rest at 45° nose high angle.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS HERDING CATTLE. ONE STEER ATTEMPTED TO BREAK FROM HERD. PILOT TURNED HELICOPTER TO CUT OFF WARWARD STEER. HEARD A BANG AND LOST TAILROTOR AUTHORITY AND LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT. IT ROTATED ONE AND HALF TIMES WHILE SKIDS HIT THE GROUND. MAIN ROTORS IMPACTED THE GROUND. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AT 45° NOSE HIGH ANGLE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN23LA086Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportFowlerton, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with trees, which resulted in an uncontrollable spin due to tail rotor damage.Jan 10, 2023 · Substantial damage