# NTSB CEN20CA144: Robinson R22, N7007X, Seymour, TX, April 6, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 6, 2020, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Seymour, TX - Coordinates: 33.646667, -99.259445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6467&lon=-99.2594&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101162 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101162/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101162 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/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) - [Autorotation: 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) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was herding cattle when the helicopter's tail rotor struck a tree branch. The helicopter began to yaw right and fully rotated twice as the pilot maneuvered toward open terrain. The pilot lowered the collective and rolled the throttle off to arrest the rotation. The helicopter stopped rotating and then landed hard. The tail rotor and empennage sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the helicopter reported that he found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative The pilot was herding cattle when the helicopter's tailrotor struck a mesquite tree branch. The helicopter began a yaw to the right and a made 2 full rotations as the pilot maneuvered to open terrain. The pilot rolled the throttle off, stoppied the yaw, and the helicopter landed hard. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies which contributed to the accident. An examination of the helicopter conducted by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7007X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7007X), registered now, S/N 2785, built 1998 (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&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2785 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Hawker Se 258022 Llc - Registered owner: Hawker Se 258022 Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Seymour, TX - Destination: Seymour, TX - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KF05, 35 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 20200406002859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200406002859A), Apr 6, 2020: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Seymour, TX, Substantial damage. While operating in a rural area, scouting for cattle, the tail rotor contacted a tree limb, inducing a right yaw. The yaw was arrested by reducing power as he… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101162. 418 KB in all. - Photos (item 1, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation FAA (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%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.