# NTSB CEN09CA180: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N387AC, O'Donnell, TX, February 25, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 25, 2009, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: O'Donnell, TX
- Coordinates: 32.920276, -101.07611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9203&lon=-101.0761&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73410
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73410/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73410
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA180

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control while performing a quick stop maneuver to an out of ground effect (OGE) hover. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude and near calm wind condition.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01040000): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01040000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01040000/cases.md)
- [Main rotor system: main rotor blade system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting a predator control mission when he spotted wild hogs in an approximate 20-acre field of Salt Cedar trees. The pilot made a quick stop at an out-of-ground effect (OGE) hover in an attempt to move the hogs out in the open. The pilot stated that the low rotor RPM horn and light activated. He immediately stopped to regain rotor RPM. As the aircraft approached the edge of the trees towards an open field, the wind stopped and the rotor dropped to approximately 90 percent. The pilot observed an increase in airframe vibration followed by a hard left roll. The helicopter main rotor blades struck the ground in a 90-degree bank and came to rest on its left side. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated that the approximate gross weight at the time of the accident was 1,370 pounds. The helicopter performance charts indicated maximum weight for out of ground effect hover was 1,320 pounds for the weather conditions.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was conducting a predator control mission when he spotted wild hogs in an approximate 20-acre field of Salt Cedar trees. The pilot made a quick stop at an out-of-ground effect (OGE) hover in an attempt to move the hogs out in the open. The pilot stated that the low rotor RPM horn and light activated. He immediately stopped to regain rotor RPM. As the aircraft approached the edge of the trees towards an open field, the wind stopped and the rotor dropped to approximately 90 percent. The pilot observed an increase in airframe vibration followed by a hard left roll. The helicopter main rotor blades struck the ground in a 90-degree bank and came to rest on its left side. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated that the approximate gross weight at the time of the accident was 1,370 pounds. The helicopter performance charts indicated maximum weight for out of ground effect hover was 1,320 pounds for the weather conditions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N387AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N387AC-2018-02-13), registration cancelled 2018-02-13, S/N 1631, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1631
- Airframe hours: 1756
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 2F5, Lemesa, TX
- Destination: 2F5, Lemesa, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 2F5, Lamesa Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 16,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KGNC, 37 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090225001419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090225001419A), Feb 25, 2009: Robsin R22BETA, O'Donnel, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 25, 2009, at approximatley 1345 CST, during oge hovering while hunting feral hogs, the Robinson R-22 helicopter lost main rotor blade RPM and…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73410. 266 KB in all.

- Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF

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.

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