# NTSB CEN14LA197: Robinson R44 - II, N44MD, Menard, TX, March 23, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2014, 20:00 local (Mar 23, 2014, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Menard, TX - Coordinates: 30.910375, -99.780586 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9104&lon=-99.7806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89058/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89058 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA197 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in an improper touchdown attitude and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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. - [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640122), [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 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) ## Analysis The pilot was performing a recovery from a practice autorotation when the helicopter's tail struck the ground, and the helicopter pitched forward. The main rotor blades cut through the tail then struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2014, at 2000 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, N44MD, impacted terrain during recovery from a simulated autorotation at the pilot's helipad near Menard, Texas. The helicopter sustained substantial damage that included damage to the firewall, tail boom, and main rotor. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was registered to Rancho Bonito Livestock and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The local flight was not operating on a flight plan and departed from Menard, Texas at time unknown. The pilot stated that he was practicing autorotations at his ranch when the helicopter tail struck the ground while he was adding power and performing a recovery. The helicopter pitched forward from the tail strike. The main rotor blades struck the ground after they had cut through the tail, and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44MD-2016-06-20), registration cancelled 2016-06-20, S/N 11967, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44 - II (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: 11967 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Rancho Bonito Livestock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 2013 - Departed: Menard, TX - Destination: Menard, TX - Airport: PVT, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2012; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,335 total, 348 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 20140322004959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140322004959A), Mar 22, 2014: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Menard, TX, Substantial damage. During recovery from a practice autorotation the tail skid contacted the ground. A main rotor blade then struck the tail boom and the rotorcraft rolled onto… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89058. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.