- Date
- August 29, 2008, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Refugio, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2312Robinson R-22
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- San Antonio
- Case key
- 68850
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to land.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot and non-rated passenger were conducting a wildlife survey of a ranch. According to the pilot he was maneuvering to land on a ranch road at about 50-60 feet and turned into the wind. During the turn he got too slow and the low rotor horn sounded and the low rotor light illuminated. He was unable to recover the descent or go around, resulting in a hard landing. During the landing a main rotor contacted the tail boom. An examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the fuselage.
Factual narrative
The pilot and non-rated passenger were conducting a wildlife survey of a ranch. The pilot transported his helicopter to the ranch on a trailer and launched from the trailer. According to the pilot he was maneuvering to land on a ranch road at about 50-60 feet and turned into the wind. During the turn he got too slow and the low rotor horn sounded and the low rotor light illuminated. He was unable to recover the descent or go around, resulting in a hard landing. During the landing a main rotor contacted the tail boom. An examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the fuselage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2312
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1973
- Engine
- Textron Lycoming o-320-b2c, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Coastal Bend Helicopter Services LLC, doing business as Coastal Bend Helicopter Services LLC
- Registered owner
- Coastal Bend Helicopter Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Refugio, TX
- Destination
- Refugio, TX
- Airport
- N/A · Not Applicable
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2007
- Flight hours
- 622 total · 585 in this make and model · 129 in the last 90 days · 51 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 95 °F