# Accident 20240429004759A: Herr Richard S HUMMINGBIRD 260L, Spring Branch, TX, April 29, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 29, 2024, 15:15 local time
- Place: Spring Branch, TX
- Airport: Kestrel Airpark
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.8290° N, 98.4465° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8290&lon=-98.4465&mi=10
- Aircraft: N829SH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N829SH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Herr Richard S HUMMINGBIRD 260L (registry code 05631ND, https://openairdocs.org/model/herr-richard-s-hummingbird-260l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HERR RICHARD S HUMMINGBIRD 260L
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24FA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240429004759A

## Narrative

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

MULTIPLE WITNESSES OBSERVED OR HEARD THE HELICOPTER AND CONTACTED THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ROC. FOR WHERE THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST, HOMEOWNER PROVIDED THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE. THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM REVIEWED THE CAMERA FOOTAGE. THE VIDEO SHOWED THE HELICOPTER IMPACT TERRAIN IN FRONT OF THE HOME, AND A POST IMPACT EXPLOSION AND FIRE OCCURRED. THE WRECKAGE WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THE VIDEO SHOWED THE HELICOPTER WAS STRUCTURALLY INTACT PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLIGHT FIRE.

## 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 CEN24FA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA167), Apr 29, 2024: Vertical Aviation Technologies Hummingbird (N829SH), Spring Branch, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing and a subsequent impact with terrain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.