# NTSB FTW02FA028: Robinson R22, N127RB, Seagoville, TX, November 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2001, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Seagoville, TX - Coordinates: 32.649208, -96.539543 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6492&lon=-96.5395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02FA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53709/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02FA028 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance with wires while maneuvering along a river. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - wire,transmission - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot-rated student receiving instruction stated that the objective of the flight lesson was to work on confined area and pinnacle landings. The student stated that he had practiced a number of confined area landings in the local area and along a river. The student added that following his last landing/takeoff, the flight instructor took over flying to give him a break. The flight instructor flew the helicopter north of the last few landing areas to review their lesson. The flight instructor turned the helicopter south and flew along the river instructing the student and commenting on the various landing areas. The student stated that he was looking over his right shoulder at one of the previous landing areas, and looked forward to see wires in front of the helicopter. The student exclaimed, "wires!" and saw the instructor pull up on the collective and left on the cyclic. The helicopter pitched up and rolled to the left; subsequently impacting trees and terrain along the left side of the river. Examination of the accident site revealed that there was a set of three unmarked wires; one which remained hanging across the river, and two others that were laying on the west bank of the river. The helicopter came to rest on its left side among trees approximately 100 yards from the wires. The wire that remained hanging across the river was approximately 40 feet above the river, and was below the tops of the trees along the banks. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the mast cowling displayed two marks and tears perpendicular to the mast. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2001, approximately 1230 central standard time, a Robinson R22 helicopter, N127RB, was substantially damaged when it impacted wires, trees, and terrain while maneuvering near Seagoville, Texas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Sky Helicopters Inc., of Garland, Texas. The flight instructor sustained fatal injuries, and the pilot-rated student sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight departed Garland, Texas, approximately 1130. According to the student, the objective of the flight lesson was to work on confined area and pinnacle landings. The student stated that he had practiced a number of confined area landings in the local area and along the Trinity River. The student added that following his last landing/takeoff, the flight instructor took over flying to give him a break. The flight instructor flew the helicopter north of the last few landing areas to review their lesson. The flight instructor turned the helicopter south and flew along the river instructing the student and commenting on the various landing areas. The student stated that he was looking over his right shoulder at one of the previous landing areas, and looked forward to see wires in front of the helicopter. The student exclaimed, "wires!" and saw the instructor pull up on the collective and left on the cyclic. The helicopter pitched up and rolled to the left; subsequently impacting trees and terrain along the left side of the river. The student reported that the visibility at the time of the accident was approximately 10 miles. Examination of the accident site, by the NTSB investigator-in-charge and an FAA inspector, revealed a set of three unmarked wires, one which remained hanging across the river, and two others that were laying on the west bank of the river. The helicopter came to rest on its left side among trees approximately 100 yards from the wires. The wire that remained hanging across the river was approximately 40 feet above the river, and was below the tops of the trees along the banks. One of the tail rotor blades was found separated from the tail rotor hub, and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers were separated from the tail boom. The aforementioned items came to rest on the ground and in a tree, respectively, approximately 40 yards prior to the main wreckage. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the mast cowling displayed two marks and tears perpendicular to the mast. The flight instructor had accumulated a total of 7,171 flight hours, of which 6,976 hours were in rotorcraft and 3,800 hours were in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. The flight instructor was transported to the hospital, where he died at 1405. An autopsy conducted by the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, Texas, determined the cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries." A toxicological test performed by the Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, detected atropine in the instructor's blood and liver. Atropine is typically administered as part of resuscitative efforts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N127RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N127RB-2002-02-04), registration cancelled 2002-02-04, S/N 2085, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2085 - Airframe hours: 1708.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sky Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Sky Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 5, 2001, 84.6 hours before - Departed: T57, Garland, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 6, 2001; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,171 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 22, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 13,500 total, 32 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: RBD, 20 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 20011103032249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011103032249A), Nov 3, 2001: Robsin R22, Seagoville, TX, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft struck wire cables strung across trinity river resulting in loss of control. Pic/instructor injuries fatal. Student injuries serious. Aircraft… 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.