- Date
- November 10, 2021, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Davis, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3027WRobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20211110019199A
- Case key
- 104251
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot’s encounter of a downdraft from which there was insufficient altitude to recover.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he had descended the helicopter to about 50ft above ground level along a ridgeline when he encountered a downdraft from an opposing ridgeline. He attempted to fly out of the downdraft by flying towards lower ground but did not have the power or airspeed to arrest the descent. The helicopter’s low rotor RPM came on as the helicopter impacted terrain and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3027W
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 11660
- Built
- 2007
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Aaron Kellum
- Registered owner
- S2 Helicopter Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
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
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 23, 2021
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,737 total · 2,100 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 20 °F
- Observed at
- KMRF, 24 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.