# NTSB CEN26LA119: Robinson Helicopter R66, N940BH, Graford, TX, February 19, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 18, 2026, 18:15 local (Feb 19, 2026, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Graford, TX · Private Property Near: 5343 south farm to market 4, palo pinto , texas 76484 - Coordinates: 32.96, -98.27 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9600&lon=-98.2700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202454/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient rotor speed during a practice autorotation to soft terrain which resulted in a loss of control and roll over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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 R66, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed for a short flight to his own private landing area. While approaching to land, he initiated a practice autorotation toward the hangar. During the descent, all indications appeared normal. As the pilot started the flare and increased the throttle, the low rotor RPM warning activated. He continued the flare to reduce forward speed and the low rotor RPM warning sounded again. At this point, the pilot elected to perform a run-on landing. He lowered the nose of the helicopter to level the skids. The ground was soft due to recent rain and after the helicopter skidded about 15 feet, the left skid dug into the soft ground, and the helicopter tilted forward, and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter rolled onto its left side and the tail boom separated which resulted in substantial damage to the main and tail rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter which would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N940BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N940BH), registered now, S/N 1192, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (registry code 54232, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1192 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 582.89 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300/A1 300 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brazos Vortex LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 2, 2025 - Departed: N/A, Mineral Wells, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Video recording device, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,584.2 total, 665.5 in this make and model, 1,553.7 as pilot in command, 44.8 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg - Observed at: MWL, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KMWL 182353Z AUTO 19012KT 10SM CLR 22/01 A2964 RMK AO2 SLP029 T02220006 10261 20211 56021 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.