# NTSB CEN13CA022: Robinson Helicopter R44, N7507K, Loop, TX, October 21, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 21, 2012, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Loop, TX
- Coordinates: 32.859165, -102.289169
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8592&lon=-102.2892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85394
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85394/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85394
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA022

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate performance calculations, which resulted in an overweight takeoff for the conditions and the subsequent hard impact with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Before the accident flight, the pilot asked for the weights of passengers, fueled the helicopter accordingly, and then flew to pick up the passengers. However, when the pilot arrived to pick up the passengers, they appeared to be heavier than the weights he had used for them in his preflight planning. The pilot reported that he was able to lift off and bring the helicopter to a hover, so the helicopter seemed to have sufficient power for takeoff. However, as the helicopter flew forward over a thicket, the main rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot lowered the nose to increase rpm. The rpm did not increase, and the helicopter impacted terrain hard and sustained substantial damage when its tailboom separated. The pilot estimated that the helicopter’s weight at the time of the accident was inside the envelope for in-ground-effect operations, but was outside the envelope for out-of-ground-effect operations. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter during the flight. The pilot stated that he should have requested that one person remain on the ground until more fuel was burned off.

## Factual narrative

The pilot asked the weights of passengers, fueled the helicopter in reference to the passengers, and then flew to a location to pick up passengers. The passengers were heavier than expected. The pilot reported that he brought the helicopter to a hover and the helicopter seemed to have sufficient power for takeoff. As the helicopter flew forward over a thicket, the main rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot lowered the nose to increase rpm. The rpm did not increase and the helicopter impacted terrain hard where it sustained substantial damage when its tailboom separated. The pilot estimated that the helicopter weight at the time of the accident was inside the envelope for in-ground effect operations and was outside the envelope for out-of-ground effect operations. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter during the flight. His safety recommendation was that he should have requested one person to stay until more fuel was burned off.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7507K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7507K-2020-02-21), registration cancelled 2020-02-21, S/N 1255, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1255
- Airframe hours: 1514.5
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-F185 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Lange Helicopters Inc.
- Registered owner: Lange Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 2012
- Departed: Loop, TX
- Destination: Loop, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 26,693 total, 123 in this make and model, 137 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: HOB

## 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 20121021023689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121021023689A), Oct 21, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44, Lamesa, TX, Substantial damage. On October 21, 2012, N7507K, a Robinson R-44, departed Lamesa airport, in Lamesa, Texas, with one passenger. The helicopter departed and traveled northwest to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85394. 424 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 371 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous Record of Communication (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20Record%20of%20Communication-Master.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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