# NTSB CEN13CA124: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N744RM, Menard, TX, January 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 2, 2013, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Menard, TX - Coordinates: 30.932222, -99.809165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9322&lon=-99.8092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 85955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85955/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85955 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA124 ## Probable cause The helicopter landed hard during a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis As the helicopter was flying west in the direction of the sun and at 250 feet above ground level, the pilot heard a loud "bang" and observed a black object go by the left side of the helicopter. The object struck the passenger-side windshield. The pilot performed a forced landing to a highway. During the forced landing, both landing skids separated and the helicopter slid to a stop. The lower fuselage was buckled and wrinkled in several locations. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The helicopter was flying to the west, into the sun, at 250 feet above ground level. The pilot heard a loud "bang" and observed a black object go by the left side of his helicopter. The passenger side windshield was struck by the object. The pilot performed a forced landing to the highway. During the forced landing, both landing skids separated and the helicopter slid to a stop. The lower fuselage was buckled and wrinkled in several locations. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N744RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N744RM-2014-05-08), registration cancelled 2014-05-08, S/N 11322, built 2006 (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: 11322 - Airframe hours: 1193.6 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 4, 2012 - Departed: Menard, TX - Destination: Menard, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 6,015 total, 121 in this make and model, 6,015 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 7° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KJCT, 25 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 20130102000149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130102000149A), Jan 2, 2013: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Menard, TX, Substantial damage. During cruise flight the aircraft struck a bird that broke the passenger side windshield. During a rapid descent approach to a precautionary landing the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85955. 496 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 496 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.