# Accident 20241231019019A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Galveston, TX, December 31, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 2024, 12:45 local time
- Place: Galveston, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: YUFJ
- Location: 29.3045° N, 94.7714° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3045&lon=-94.7714&mi=10
- Aircraft: N441HQ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N441HQ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 550 total, 517 in this make and model, 183 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241231019019A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS RUNNING ON THE GROUND WITH PILOT ON BOARD. PILOT ROLLED UP THROTTLE TO LIFT AND REPOSITION AIRCRAFT TO ADJACENT PAD ON RIGHT SIDE OF AIRCRAFT. AS PILOT APPLIED POWER, NOSE LIFTED AND AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED DYNAMIC ROLL-OVER, CAUSED BY CONTACT BETWEEN THE AFT RIGHT SKID AND OUTDOOR CARPET STAKED TO THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL.

## 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 CEN25LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA067), Dec 31, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N441HQ), Galveston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during the takeoff from the helipad in high and gusting wind conditions, that resulted in the right skid extension embedding in the artificial turf,…

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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