# NTSB CEN26LA153: Robinson Helicopter R66, N4059A, Arlington, TX, March 27, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 27, 2026, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Arlington, TX - Coordinates: 32.663871, -97.094281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6639&lon=-97.0943&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 202724 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202724/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202724 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA153 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during the hover taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 R66, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Workload management: task allocation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had requested flight following from the departure airport control tower. He had lifted off and was conducting a hover taxi along a taxiway as he attempted to enter the assigned transponder code. When he became distracted with the task, the helicopter drifted over the grass area adjacent to the taxiway. The tail of the helicopter inadvertently contacted the grass and the helicopter pitched forward and impacted the ground. The pilot shut down the engine and exited the helicopter with his passenger. The helicopter sustained damage to the tail rotor blades, vertical stabilizer, and landing skids. The pilot noted that entering the transponder code while on the ground before lifting off into the hover would have prevented the distraction and, likely, the accident. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4059A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4059A), registered now, S/N 1314, built 2024 (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: 1314 - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 300 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C300/A1 300 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2025, 75 hours before - Departed: GKY, Arlington, TX - Destination: MDD, Midland, TX - Airport: GKY, Arlington Municipal - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 23, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,800 total, 275 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KGKY - METAR: METAR KGKY 271453Z 16012G19KT 10SM CLR 22/17 A3008 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202724. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20166182&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN26LA153_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20171988&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN26LA153-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.