# NTSB CEN12CA643: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N957R, Slaton, TX, September 18, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 18, 2012, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Slaton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.485279, -101.661666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4853&lon=-101.6617&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85079
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA643
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85079/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85079
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA643

## Probable cause

The pilot’s misalignment of the helicopter during landing, which resulted in the helicopter’s fall from a raised platform.

## Findings

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

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After a local flight, the pilot positioned the helicopter onto its platform trailer. The helicopter’s left skid touched down on the metal surface, and the pilot then lowered the right skid to the platform. The helicopter started to slip off the platform, so the pilot raised the collective to correct the problem. However, the helicopter fell to the left, the main rotor impacted the ground, and the tail boom was severed. The helicopter came to rest on the skids; the fuel tank was compromised and a post-crash fire consumed a majority of the helicopter.

## Factual narrative

After a local flight, the pilot positioned the helicopter onto its platform trailer. The helicopter’s left skid touched down on the metal surface and the pilot then lowered the right skid to the platform. The helicopter started to slip off the platform, so the pilot raised the collective to correct the problem. However, the helicopter fell to the left, the main rotor impacted the ground, and the tail boom was severed. The helicopter came to rest on the skids: the fuel tank was compromised and a post-crash fire consumed a majority of the helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N957R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N957R-2014-12-08), registration cancelled 2014-12-08, S/N 10598, built 2005 (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: 10598
- Airframe hours: 1004
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 91
- Operator: GB Aerial Applications, Inc
- Registered owner: GB Aerial Applications, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2011
- Departed: F49, Slaton, TX
- Destination: F49, Slaton, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: F49, Slaton Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KLBB, 13 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 20120918019069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120918019069A), Sep 18, 2012: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Slaton, TX, Destroyed. This was a final landing for the day. The pilot departed Slaton municipal airport in Slaton, TX (F49) at about 1330 local time, flew a commercial flight to…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85079. 312 KB in all.

- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (memo) (item 1, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20(memo)-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Burnt helicopter wreckage (FAA photo) (item 3, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20%20Burnt%20helicopter%20wreckage%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-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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