# NTSB CEN22LA400: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N4447A, San Isidro, TX, August 21, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2022, 19:30 local (Aug 21, 2022, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: San Isidro, TX
- Coordinates: 27.72606, -98.36814
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7261&lon=-98.3681&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA400
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105816/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105816
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA400

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to conduct an autorotation with a tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was practicing autorotations when the accident occurred. After successfully completing several autorotations from the same direction, he elected to attempt one from a different direction, which put the helicopter into a tailwind. During the maneuver, when the pilot rolled off the throttle, the helicopter “lost RPM”. He attempted to add power but was too low to the ground and the helicopter landed hard and rolled onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the pilot was seriously injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4447A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4447A), registered now, S/N 12906, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY 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: 12906
- Year built: 2009
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: KMFE
- METAR: KMFE 202353Z 10015G21KT 10SM CLR 32/23 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP113 60000 T03220228 10356 20317 56006

## 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 20220820014859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220820014859A), Aug 20, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Delmita, TX, Substantial damage. Narrative: On August 20, 2022, a Robinson R44 ii helicopter, [privacy data omitted], sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near san…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105816. 402 KB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14452000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14451504&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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.

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