- Date
- January 12, 2004, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Encino, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7061VRobinson R-22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration-SW17
- FAA report
- 20040112005599A
- Case key
- 58604
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's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while hovering.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While maneuvering at low altitude during a cattle-herding operation, the helicopter's tail rotor contacted a tree. After impact, "the helicopter yawed," and the pilot initiated an autorotation. During the autorotation, the helicopter impacted a stand of trees and brush, and subsequently, came to rest on its left side.
Factual narrative
On January 12, 2004, approximately 0915 central standard time, a Robinson R-22 Beta single-engine helicopter, N7061V, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following an in-flight collision with a tree while maneuvering near Encino, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The helicopter was registered and operated by Mesquite Helicopter Services, Inc., of Alice, Texas, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight.
According to the 6,750-hour pilot, the helicopter departed a private ranch, about 0730, for the purpose of herding cattle. While hovering at a low altitude, the tail rotor contacted a tree. Due to the loss of the tail rotor system, the helicopter yawed, and the pilot initiated an autorotation. During the autorotation, the helicopter impacted a stand of trees and brush, and subsequently, came to rest on its left side.
According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section, the pilot reported, "Higher level of flight near obstructions."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7061V
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2917
- Airframe hours
- 3,165.7
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-J2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mesquite Helicopter Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 16, 2003 · 77.6 hours before
- Departed
- Encino, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Military, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- January 30, 2002
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,754 as pilot in command · 274 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.31 inHg
- Observed at
- BKS
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2004, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.