# NTSB CEN19LA193: Robinson R22, N7143Y, Garwood, TX, June 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 29, 2019, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Garwood, TX - Coordinates: 29.4325, -96.440277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4325&lon=-96.4403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99746/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99746 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA193 ## Probable cause The pilots' failure to maintain clearance from a power line during low level operations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing a crop pollination flight in the helicopter when the helicopter was pushed vertically toward the power lines due to a "gust of air or thermal from the differing vegetation." The main rotor blades impacted the power lines, then the helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest in the field, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2019, about 1240 central daylight time, a Robinson R-22 (Beta), N7143Y, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Garwood, Texas. The commercial pilot and sole occupant sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 crop pollination flight. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to fly low-level over a field of rice for crop pollination. The pilot reported that the helicopter, while flying about three ft above the rice, was pushed vertically towards the powerlines due to a "gust of air or thermal from the differing vegetation." The main rotor blades of the helicopter impacted a wire about 45 ft above ground level. The helicopter impacted terrain after the wire strike and came to rest in the field. The pilot performed and emergency shutdown and egressed from the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, the tail boom, and the tail rotor system. Damage from a wire strike was observed to the main rotor blades and to the main rotor mast. The wire was part of a group of secondary distribution wires that carried 240-volts of power. The wire sustained damage from the impact but remained intact and did not separate from the utility poles. The wire and surrounding wires did not have aerial markers installed, nor were they required to. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7143Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7143Y-2021-03-11), registration cancelled 2021-03-11, S/N 3713, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 (BETA) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3713 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 984.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Alamo Helicopter Tours San Antonio LLC, doing business as Alamo Helicopters - Registered owner: Spitzer Helicopter LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 16, 2019 - Departed: Garwood, TX - Destination: Garwood, TX - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2018; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 278 total, 59 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Observed at: KARM, 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 20190629008509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190629008509A), Jun 29, 2019: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Garwood, TX, Destroyed. 06/29/2019 AOA 12:30L a call was received from the roc reporting the listed helicopter had struck a power line and crashed in the rice field it had been flying… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99746. 5.3 MB in all. - Accident Photographs (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Aviation Safety Inspector Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Aviation%20Safety%20Inspector%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-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.