- Date
- February 15, 2015, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Asherton, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7181SRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 13, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20150215003939A
- Case key
- 90782
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot did not maintain adequate clearance from the trees.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he was herding cattle with the helicopter. He descended to an altitude of about 10 feet to get the cattle to turn and enter a pen. After the cattle entered the pen, he maneuvered away and gained altitude to clear some nearby trees. The pilot thought the helicopter was clear of the trees; however, the tailrotor impacted a tree. The helicopter started to spin, so he reduced the throttle to stop the spin. The helicopter impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tailboom.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he was herding cattle with the helicopter. He descended to an altitude of about 10 feet to get the cattle to turn and enter a pen. After the cattle entered the pen, he maneuvered away and gained altitude to clear some nearby trees. The pilot thought the helicopter was clear of the trees; however, the tailrotor impacted a tree. The helicopter started to spin, so he reduced the throttle to stop the spin. The helicopter impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage the main rotor blades , fuselage, and tailboom.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7181S
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (BETA)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3008
- Built
- 1999
- Engine
- Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Southwest Texas Helicopters, Inc
- Registered owner
- Graff Fred L II
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Asherton, TX
- Destination
- Asherton, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,613 total · 2,481 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.