# NTSB FTW03LA203: Robinson R22 Beta, N731BA, Ozona, TX, August 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2003, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Ozona, TX - Coordinates: 30.616666, -101.016944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6167&lon=-101.0169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57766 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57766/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA203 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to hover out of ground effect, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - loss of tail rotor effectiveness - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis During the flight, the pilot was following a hog up the side of a rocky ridgeline at approximately 25 feel agl. As the helicopter started to overtake the hog, the pilot pulled the helicopter into a hover to keep from over flying it. The pilot stated the helicopter "hit some dirty air and lost some tail rotor effectiveness." The pilot then "added left pedal and increased power, but the helicopter didn't respond." The pilot further stated he "had no altitude, or airspeed to make a recovery." Subsequently, the helicopter spun to the right and settled into the side of the ridge coming to rest on its left side. According to FAA's Advisory Circular 90-95, loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) "is a critical, low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic that can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in the loss of aircraft control. LTE is not related to a maintenance malfunction and may occur in varying degrees in all single main rotor helicopters in some of the conditions conducive to LTE include a high power setting, low airspeed, and a tailwind or left crosswind." ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2003, at 1045 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N731BA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering near Ozona, Texas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Holt Helicopters Inc., of Uvalde, Texas. The commercial pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 flight. The local flight originated from a staging area three miles west of the accident site, approximately 30 minutes before the time of the accident. The 15,367-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that he and a passenger were hunting hogs for animal damage control on a ranch south of Ozona. During the flight he was following a hog up the side of a rocky ridgeline at approximately 25 feel agl. As the helicopter started to overtake the hog, he pulled the helicopter into a hover to keep from over flying it. The pilot stated the helicopter "hit some dirty air and lost some tail rotor effectiveness." He then "added left pedal and increased power, but the helicopter didn't respond." The pilot further stated he "had no altitude, or airspeed to make a recovery." Subsequently, the helicopter spun to the right and settled into the side of the ridge coming to rest on its left side. According to FAA's Advisory Circular 90-95, loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) "is a critical, low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic that can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in the loss of aircraft control. LTE is not related to a maintenance malfunction and may occur in varying degrees in all single main rotor helicopters in some of the conditions conducive to LTE include a high power setting, low airspeed, and a tailwind or left crosswind." Examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, revealed the tail boom was separated in three places, both main rotor blades were bent, both tail rotor blades were bent, and both landing skids were separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731BA-2017-02-16), registration cancelled 2017-02-16, S/N 3013, built 1999 (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: 3013 - Airframe hours: 1954.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Holt Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 2003, 3.7 hours before - Departed: Ozona, TX - Destination: Ozona, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 8, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 15,367 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SJT ## 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 20030825022539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030825022539A), Aug 25, 2003: Robsin R22BETA, Ozona, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 25, 2003, at 11:15AM local time, N731BA, a R-22 Robinson helicopter crashed approximately 16 miles south of Ozona, Texas on a private ranch.… 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.