# NTSB CEN25LA067: Robinson Helicopter R44, N441HQ, Galveston, TX, December 31, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 31, 2024, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Galveston, TX · Helipad with artificial turf.
- Coordinates: 29.30454, -94.771416 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3045&lon=-94.7714&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- 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 Houston FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199496/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199496
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA067

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during the takeoff from the helipad in high and gusting wind conditions, that resulted in the right skid extension embedding in the artificial turf, and a subsequent dynamic rollover sequence.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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 R44, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: aux gear (tail/rotorcrft skid)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023270): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023270/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023270/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Due to recent precipitation in the area, the heliport, consisting of a flat grass, artificial turf and dirt field, was soft. The private heliport, that is equipped with a windsock, is located about 800 ft away from the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the soft ground conditions, the operator’s fuel truck was parked farther away from the helipad. The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to reposition the helicopter from the current helipad to another helipad at the heliport, to be near the fuel truck to obtain fuel. At the time of the takeoff, the pilot reported the wind condition originating from about 340°, was 16 to 18 kts, with gusts of 25 to 26 kts. As the pilot initiated the takeoff from the artificial turf helipad with the helicopter oriented to the north, the pilot reported the wind “helped push” the helicopter slightly rearward. During the rearward movement, the right skid extension became embedded in the artificial turf, the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover sequence, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The pilot was able to egress from the front right seat via the fractured windshield. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, the tailcone, and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the airframe manufacturer, there are no published wind limitations for starting and takeoff, however, in ground effect hover controllability has been substantiated in a 17 kt wind from any direction up to 9,600 ft density altitude. The operator did not have any published wind limitations for starting and takeoff, however the operator reported that the wind condition is typically 15 to 25 kts at the heliport. A review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D Heliport Design did not find any published guidance on the usage of artificial turf at heliports, nor was any published guidance found in the FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-21B regarding artificial turf hazards with dynamic rollover.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N441HQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N441HQ), registered now, S/N 1155 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1155
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 3878.24
- Engines: Lycoming Engines O-540-F1B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Galveston Helicopter Adventures, LLC, doing business as Galveston Helicopter Adventures, LLC
- Registered owner: Spitzer Helicopter, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 6, 2024
- Airport: None, Private Heliport, runway NA, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, remote; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 550.4 total, 474.8 as pilot in command, 103.1 in the last 90 days, 51.8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KGLS, 5 nm away
- METAR: KGLS 311752Z 36017KT 10SM CLR 19/08 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01940078 10200 20178 50011

## 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 20241231019019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241231019019A), Dec 31, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R44, Galveston, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft was running on the ground with pilot on board. Pilot rolled up throttle to lift and reposition aircraft to adjacent pad on right side of aircraft. As…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199496. 135 MB in all.

- Accident photographs (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 9.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18195277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18192000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident site overview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18196334&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Overview-Rel.pdf
- Pilot flight review entry (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 880 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18191702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Flight%20Review%20Information_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Robinson helicopter company and operator - email memorandums (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18195046&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Robinson%20Helicopter%20Company%20and%20Operator%20-%20Email%20Memorandums-Rel.pdf
- Robinson helicopter company - R-44 pilot's operating handbook and rotorcraft flight manual excerpt (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18194684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RHC%20R-44%20POH%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Robinson helicopter company - R-44 illustrated parts catalog excerpt (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 808 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18195510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RHC%20R-44%20IPC%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Robinson helicopter company - safety notice SN-09 many accidents involve dynamic rollover (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 973 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18195520&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RHC%20Safety%20Notice%20SN-09-Rel.pdf
- N441HQ - video footage #1 (.mov file - courtesy of mcdonald's) (item 9, MOV, 42.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18209511&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=N441HQ%20Video%20Footage%20%231-Rel.MOV
- N441HQ - video footage #2 (.mov file - courtesy of mcdonald's) (item 10, MOV, 76.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18209437&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=N441HQ%20Video%20Footage%20%232-Rel.MOV

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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