# Accident 20250919013159A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Alvord, TX, September 19, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2025, 10:07 local time
- Place: Alvord, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: V79A
- Location: 33.2999° N, 97.6218° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2999&lon=-97.6218&mi=10
- Aircraft: N831VA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N831VA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (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 R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 168 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA389) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250919013159A

## Narrative

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

DURING A PINACLE LANDING, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR AND GEARBOX ASSEMBLY TEARING THE TAILSECTION, TAILROTOR AND GEARBOX FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN25LA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA389), Sep 19, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N831VA), Decatur, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control during an off-airport, pinnacle landing, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the instructional flight.

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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