# NTSB CEN20CA230: Robinson R22, N797SH, El Campo, TX, June 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2020, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: El Campo, TX - Coordinates: 29.190555, -96.249168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1906&lon=-96.2492&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101445/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101445 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA230 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the rice vegetation, which resulted in the helicopter's impact with terrain. ## 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, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03020000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03020000/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03020000/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, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640102), [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, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the helicopter, he was flying low-level about 20 mph, pollinating a rice field. He reported that he misjudged his operating altitude, and the helicopter contacted the rice vegetation. The helicopter entered an uncontrollable spin and impacted the rice field. The pilot reported that he was unharmed, but the helicopter was "totally destroyed". He added that the helicopter was operating normally, and the accident was due to "pilot error" in misjudging his altitude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N797SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N797SH-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 3732, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 (BETA) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3732 - Year built: 2004 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2020 - Departed: El Campo, TX - Destination: El Campo, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2020; flight hours: 312 total, 82 in this make and model, 237.6 as pilot in command, 23.3 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20200616007659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200616007659A), Jun 16, 2020: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, El Campo, TX, Destroyed. The helicopter was low level flying approximately 20 mph pollinating a rice field. Pilot misjudged the altitude that he was at and eventually realized he was… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101445. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.