# NTSB CEN11CA126: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N841SA, Hemphill, TX, December 22, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 22, 2010, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Hemphill, TX - Coordinates: 31.235277, -93.687774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2353&lon=-93.6878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78050 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78050/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78050 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA126 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper decision to carry an unauthorized passenger and the passenger’s loss of control of the helicopter during take-off. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the helicopter’s owner, who held a student pilot certificate, flew with a passenger from a local airport to a lake house. Upon departure from the lake house, the passenger was at the controls of the helicopter. As the helicopter started to lift off from the ground, it made a sharp turn to the right. The student pilot added that he was unable to take the controls from the passenger and regain control of the helicopter. The helicopter’s tailrotor struck the ground and the helicopter subsequently rolled left and into the lake, where it sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, main and tailrotor blades. ## Factual narrative According to a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the helicopter’s owner, who held a student pilot certificate, flew with a passenger from a local airport to a lake house. Upon departure from the lake house residence, the passenger was at the controls of the helicopter. As the helicopter started to lift off from the ground, it made a sharp turn to the right. The student pilot added that he was unable to take the controls from the passenger and regain control of the helicopter. The helicopter’s tailrotor struck the ground and subsequently rolled left and into the lake. The FAA inspector stated that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, main and tailrotor blades. A completed copy of NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident Report, was not submitted by the student pilot as requested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N841SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N841SA-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 12302, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 12302 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: TGB Equipment Leasing LLC - Registered owner: TGB Equipment Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Hemphill, TX - Destination: Hemphill, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: Private field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20101222054639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101222054639A), Dec 22, 2010: Robinson He R44 II, Hemphill, TX, Substantial damage. On 12/22/2010 at approx 2000 UTC helicopter N841SA, a Robinson R-44 ii with two persons aboard attempted to hover prior to takeoff from the shoreline of a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78050. 82 KB in all. - Telephone Statements (item 1, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20Statements-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. --- 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.