# NTSB CEN25LA237: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N992TP, Pecos, TX, July 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2025, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Pecos, TX - Coordinates: 31.382389, -103.51072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3824&lon=-103.5107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200475/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200475 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA237 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; 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) - [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 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student helicopter pilot stated that during a personal flight, he and a pilot departed the airport, flew to a ranch and returned. The pilot did not hold a flight instructor certificate. Upon return, they flew to the airport fuel facility to obtain fuel. A witness stated that the student pilot told him he was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident during a hover taxi and due to gusty wind conditions and not being comfortable, he transferred the flight controls to the pilot. The student pilot stated as the helicopter nearly touched down in front of the fuel facility, a big gust of wind, presumably a whirlwind, shot the helicopter straight up about 20-25 ft, and the helicopter did a quick 360° turn and rolled left before it came crashing down. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor, fuselage, and main rotor. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N992TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N992TP), registered now, S/N 14089, built 2017 (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: 14089 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 664.03 - Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-540-AE1A5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2025 - Departed: PEQ, Pecos, TX - Destination: PEQ, Pecos, TX - Airport: PEQ, Pecos Municipal Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2017; seat: left - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 7, 2019; seat: right; flight hours: 209 total, 31 in this make and model, 103 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Observed at: E01, 33 nm away ## 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 20250704009429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250704009429A), Jul 4, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Pecos, TX, Substantial damage. On July 04, 2025, at 1105 CDT, a Robinson R-44-II incurred substantial damage when it impacted terrain while attempting to hover-taxi. The aircraft was being… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200475. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19220529&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=National%20Transportation%20Safety%20Board%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19332511&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19331916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.