# NTSB FTW02LA266: Robinson R22 Beta, N888MH, Freer, TX, September 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 2002, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Freer, TX - Coordinates: 27.564167, -98.738052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5642&lon=-98.7381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: San Antonio, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 55782 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55782/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA266 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines while manuevering. A factor was the sunglare. ## 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 (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - open field - Roll over, landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot was herding cattle flying from the east "right into the sun, in sideward flight" when the helicopter struck a 25-foot high power line. The helicopter began shaking violently and yawed hard to the left, when the pilot rolled off throttle and lowered the collective to autorotate. The helicopter then made a three-quarter turn to the right before hitting flat on its skids and rolling over on its left side. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 2002, at 0830 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N888MH, was substantially damaged upon collision with power lines and subsequent impact with terrain near Freer, Texas. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Mesquite Helicopter Service, Inc., of Alice, Texas. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The local flight departed from ranch headquarters near Freer at 0745. According to the Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he was using the helicopter to "gather" cattle in a pasture and move them into pens. The pilot stated that he had completed gathering cattle from the first pasture with the owner of the ranch on board, who then instructed him to take one of his farm hands to gather cattle from the second pasture. The pilot reported that he started gathering cattle in the second pasture, flying north and south along the west fence. "The pens were in the southeast corner, so I planned on taking the cows to the east fence and pushing them south to the pens." The pilot reported that the cattle were moving good, but "I noticed one had stayed back near a pond, so I got low to push the cow out of the thicket to get her up to the heard." The pilot stated that he was now flying east, "directly into the sun, in sideward flight" when he struck a 25-foot high power line. The pilot further stated "the helicopter began shaking violently, and there was a lot of grinding noise." The pilot reported that after the helicopter yawed to the right "hard", he rolled off throttle and lowered the collective to autorotate. The helicopter made a three-quarter rotation to the right, hit flat on its skids, and subsequently rolled over on its left side. The pilot and his passenger existed the helicopter uninjured, and there was no post-impact fire. The pilot reported that damage to the helicopter included both main rotor blades being destroyed, and approximately 1 foot of the aft tail boom, including the tail rotor, had separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888MH-2003-02-05), registration cancelled 2003-02-05, S/N 3121, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3121 - Airframe hours: 1606.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-OV-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mesquite Helicopter Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 2002, 17.3 hours before - Departed: Freer, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 18, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 2,086 total, 2,044 in this make and model, 2,001 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: LRD, 46 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 20020926035809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020926035809A), Sep 26, 2002: Robsin R22BETA, Freer, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 26, 2002, at 0830, tanner b couch was the pilot-in-command of N888MH, a Robinson helicopter, flying in VFR conditions for the purpose of… 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.