# NTSB CEN15CA093: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N174CD, Horseshoe Bay, TX, December 29, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 29, 2014, 15:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Horseshoe Bay, TX
- Coordinates: 30.526388, -98.359169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5264&lon=-98.3592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90562/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90562
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA093

## Probable cause

The helicopter's contact with the landing pad during a rejected landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); 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)

## Analysis

The pilot attempted to land the helicopter on a landing cart. As the helicopter's skids contacted the cart, the helicopter began to slide forward and to the left. The pilot aborted the landing and brought the helicopter back to a hover. During the maneuver, the tail boom stinger contacted the landing cart and the helicopter nosed over. The helicopter touched down and rolled on to its side, causing substantial damage to the tail boom, fuselage, and rotor system. The pilot reported a variable wind and a developing tailwind during the landing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot attempted to land the helicopter on a landing cart. As the helicopter's skids contacted the cart, the helicopter began to slide forward and to the left. The pilot aborted the landing and brought the helicopter back to a hover. During the maneuver, the tail boom stinger contacted the landing cart and the helicopter nosed over. The helicopter touched down and rolled on to its side, causing substantial damage to the tail boom, fuselage, and rotor system. The pilot reported a variable wind and a developing tailwind during the landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N174CD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N174CD-2015-03-24), registration cancelled 2015-03-24, S/N 13304, built 2012 (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: 13304
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 339
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 23, 2014, 13.6 hours before
- Departed: BMQ, BURNET, TX
- Destination: DZB, Horseshoe Bay, TX
- Airport: DZB, Horseshoe Bay Resort

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2014; seat: right; flight hours: 13,973 total, 337.2 in this make and model, 13,973 as pilot in command, 76.5 in the last 90 days, 0.4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KDZB

## 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 20141229023359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141229023359A), Dec 29, 2014: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Marble Falls, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing helicopter to a cart with a quartering tailwind. As the skids made contact with the surface of the cart, a gust of wind moved the helicopter…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90562. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420770&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.

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