# NTSB CEN25LA031: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N7521Z, Pearland, TX, October 27, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 27, 2024, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX · airport ramp - Coordinates: 29.521278, -95.242139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5213&lon=-95.2421&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 195385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during lift off. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); 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) - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he increased engine power to lift off and initiated a pedal turn toward the adjacent taxiway. He recalled that the helicopter made a “violent lurch” to the right, so he lowered the collective abruptly but that did not seem to make any difference. He did not remember anything further. Airport surveillance video footage captured the helicopter lift off and translate a short distance to the right. The right skid appeared to contact the ground again, and the helicopter immediately began rotating to the right. This was accompanied by dramatic pitch oscillations. The aft portion of the tailboom impacted the paved ramp surface, and the tailboom and empennage separated. Rotation of the helicopter continued until it collided with a nearby parked airplane. The helicopter sustained damage to both main rotor blades, the tailboom, tail rotor assembly, and the empennage. An examination helicopter did not reveal any preimpact anomalies consistent with an inability to maintain control of the helicopter. A review of the surveillance video indicated that the helicopter began a dynamic rollover when the right skid dragged on the ground immediately after lifting off. Based on the response of the helicopter, the pilot likely increased collective pitch to increase height but did not provide sufficient left anti-torque pedal input to counter the increased torque. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter before it impacted the ground. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 2024, about 0830 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R-22 Beta, N7521Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), Pearland, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he increased engine power to about 18 inches of manifold pressure to lift off and he started a pedal turn toward the adjacent taxiway. He recalled the helicopter made a “violent lurch” to the right and he lowered the collective abruptly but that did not seem to make any difference. The pilot did not remember anything further. Airport surveillance video footage showed the helicopter lift off and translate a short distance to the right. The right skid appeared to contact the ground again, and the helicopter immediately began rotating to the right. This was accompanied by pitch oscillations. The aft portion of the tailboom impacted the paved ramp surface, and the tailboom and empennage separated. Rotation of the helicopter continued until it collided with a nearby parked airplane. The helicopter sustained damage to both main rotor blades, the tailboom, tail rotor assembly, and the empennage. An examination of the helicopter confirmed flight control continuity from the cyclic and collective cockpit controls to the main rotor. Tail rotor control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit anti-torque pedals to the tailboom separation. Damage to the tail rotor control system aft of the tailboom separation was consistent with the impact damage. The examination did not reveal any preimpact anomalies consistent with an inability to maintain control of the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7521Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7521Z), registered now, S/N 3810, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3810 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 6084 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Veracity Aviation LLC, doing business as Veracity Aviation - Registered owner: Veracity Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 11, 2024, 55 hours before - Departed: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Destination: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Regional - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 492 total, 181 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: KLVJ - METAR: METAR KLVJ 271353Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM CLR 22/21 A3024 ## 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 20241027015971A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241027015971A), Oct 27, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Pearland, TX, Substantial damage. During takeoff from helicopter pad at Pearland Regional Airport, pilot lost control of helicopter resulting in crash in which the aircraft sustained… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195385. 47.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18083029&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA031_redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18082205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Stmt%20--%20CEN25LA031_redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18083039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Stmt%20--%20CEN25LA031_redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport ramp surveillance video_1 (item 4, MP4, 12.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18082898&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Ramp%20Surveillance%20Video_1%20--%20CEN25LA031-Rel.mp4 - Airport ramp surveillance video_2 (item 5, MOV, 14.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18083123&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Ramp%20Surveillence%20Video_2%20--%20CEN25LA031-Rel.mov - Helicopter examination summary (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18091038&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN25LA031-Rel.pdf - Helicopter maintenance records (item 7, PDF, 15 pages, 14.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18082815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Helicopter%20Maintenance%20Records%20--%20CEN25LA031_redacted-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. --- 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.