# NTSB FTW02LA268: Robinson R44, N952LC, Del Rio, TX, September 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2002, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Del Rio, TX - Coordinates: 29.36984, -100.89038 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3698&lon=-100.8904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55805/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA268 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. A contributing factor was the reported gusting wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, landing - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The 1,243-hour commercial pilot was attempting to land the helicopter on a trailer following completion of a deer survey on a 10,000 acres ranch. The pilot reported that the wind was "strong, estimated at 20 to 25 knots." During his second attempt to land on the trailer, the helicopter "lurched" forward, rolled to the right, then fell off the trailer, landing on its left side. The nearest weather reporting station, located about 5 miles southwest of the accident site was reporting the winds from 130 degrees at 10 knots about 7 minutes after the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2002, approximately 1800 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N952LC, was substantially damaged when it rolled over while landing on a trailer near Del Rio, Texas. The helicopter was registered to the Leyendecker Construction Company of Laredo, Texas, and operated by Holt Helicopters of Uvalde, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The local deer survey flight originated from Rancho El Conejos, a private ranch located north of Del Rio, at about 1630. According to the 1,243-hour pilot, he had just completed a deer survey of the 10,000 acre ranch and came back to land the helicopter on a trailer. The pilot added that the wind were "strong, estimated at 20 to 25 knots variable and gusting." and he aborted his first attempt to land on the trailer. He attempted a second approach to land and came within a "few inches" of touching down on the trailer when the helicopter encountered a gust of wind. The pilot reported that the helicopter "lurched" forward, rolled to the right, then fell off the trailer, landing on its left side. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the tailboom was bent-up approximately 45 degrees, large portions of the main rotor blades were sheared off, the main rotor mast was bent inward toward the cabin, and the front wind screen is broken out. Evidence of main rotor blade strikes were found on the goose neck of the trailer and the forward portion of the trailer. The landing gear cross tubes and the skid tubes were undamaged. In the recommendation block of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) completed by the pilot, the pilot stated, "Don't land on trailer in gusty/windy conditions." The Del Rio International Airport (DRT) located about 5 miles southwest (210 degrees) of the accident site was the nearest weather reporting station. At 1753 DRT was reporting the winds from 130 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 29 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 17 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure of 29.90 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated at 2,713 feet at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N952LC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N952LC-2003-04-24), registration cancelled 2003-04-24, S/N 0719, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0719 - Airframe hours: 1144.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Holt Helicopters - Registered owner: Leyendecker Construction Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 9, 2002, 49.6 hours before - Departed: NONE, Del Rio, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 12, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 1,243 total, 115 in this make and model, 1,174 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: DRT, 5 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 20020929036069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020929036069A), Sep 29, 2002: Robsin R44, Del Rio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Due to the gusting winds during helicopter trailer landing operations, the helicopter struck the trailer that it was attempting to land on. The… 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.