- Date
- February 18, 2020, 08:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place
- Cotulla, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N10786Robinson R22
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 27, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20200218002439A
- Case key
- 100957
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's failure to remove the right skid trailer tie-down before attempting to take off, which resulted in a dynamic roll-over.
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
The helicopter pilot was attempting to take off from a trailer to conduct an aerial survey. During the liftoff from the trailer, the helicopter rolled right and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the right skid trailer tie-down had not been removed before the takeoff attempt. Both main rotors, the fuselage, and the tailboom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The commercial pilot was attempting to takeoff from a trailer in a helicopter to conduct an aerial survey. During the lift off from the trailer, the helicopter rolled right and impacted the ground. A post accident inspection revealed that the right skid tie-down to the trailer had not been removed prior to the takeoff attempt. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N10786
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2267
- Built
- 1993
- Airframe hours
- 1,567.4
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 2019 · 6.4 hours before
- Departed
- Cotulla, TX
- Destination
- Cotulla, 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
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 26, 2019
- Restraint
- 3-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N10786 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.