# NTSB CEN19TA178: Robinson R44, N445AP, La Ward, TX, June 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: June 21, 2019, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: La Ward, TX - Coordinates: 28.878334, -96.430831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8783&lon=-96.4308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99693 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19TA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99693/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99693 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19TA178 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during a course reversal, which resulted in impact with terrain. ## 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 attained/maintained (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 (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. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/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 conducting helicopter aerial applications to a field and had just reversed course when he felt the helicopter start to descend. The pilot added power, "rolled the throttle all the way on," and increased collective and the descent continued. The pilot flared the helicopter and before it impacted the ground, the helicopter rolled and came to rest in a field, resulting in substantial damage. It is likely that the pilot lost control of the helicopter during the turn, resulting in the unexpected descent. Because the helicopter was at low altitude, the pilot did not have time to arrest the descent before impacting the ground. Postaccident examination found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2019, about 1215 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N445AP, was substantially damaged when it impacted a field near La Ward, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aerial application flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. According to the pilot, during the aerial application flight to a field he had just reversed his course and was preparing for the next application pass when he felt the helicopter start to descend. The pilot added power and the descent continued. The pilot "rolled the throttle all the way on" and increased collective without a change in the decent rate. As the helicopter descended towards the field it started to shake; the pilot flared the helicopter and before it impacted the ground, the helicopter rolled and then came to rest in the field. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, the tail boom separated from the helicopter, the fuselage was wrinkled, the landing skids collapsed, and the main rotor was impact damaged. He stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N445AP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N445AP-2020-12-11), registration cancelled 2020-12-11, S/N 11607, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson 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: 11607 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farm & Ranch Helicopter Service Inc - Registered owner: Farm & Ranch Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 24, 2019, 2,359 hours before - Departed: TX0, La Ward, TX - Destination: TX0, La Ward, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,201 total, 573 in this make and model, 1,111.4 as pilot in command, 281 in the last 90 days, 102 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 17 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KPSX ## 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 20190621007739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190621007739A), Jun 21, 2019: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Laward, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot making last swath of the day spraying cotton field. Gusty crosswinds appear to have contributed to main rotor loss of lift while spraying field. Pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99693. 3.1 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=40483784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Report Photographs (item 2, .PDF, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.