- Date
- November 11, 1994, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Johnson City, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N888CGRobinson R-22B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 4, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941111038289A
- Case key
- 19302
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 with the trailer while landing.
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 landing, the helicopter contacted a utility trailer adjacent to the intended point of landing. The rear portion of the right skid caught on the trailer and the helicopter rolled over to the right, striking the ground with the main rotor blades.
Factual narrative
On November 11, 1994, at 0930 central standard time, a Robinson R-22, N888CG, was substantially damaged when it rolled over while landing, near Johnson City, Texas. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo personal flight.
The helicopter departed from the Austin Executive Airpark, in Austin, Texas, at approximately 0900 central daylight time. The pilot stated that he flew to the Byram Ranch where he intended to land next to a utility trailer. He further stated that during his approach, he hovered near the trailer, turned into the wind, and commenced to land on the runway. A ranch worker stated that he observed the right rear portion of the skids catch on the trailer, and then saw the helicopter roll over to the right, striking the ground with the turning main rotor blades.
During an interview by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the ranch worker stated that he observed the trailer "rolling" near the helicopter as it was landing and attempted to signal the pilot of the hazard.
According to the pilot's endorsed statement, he has a valid student endorsement for solo flight in the R-22.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N888CG
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0536
- Airframe hours
- 5,019
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mike Green, doing business as Mike Green & Associates
- Registered owner
- Rotor Wing Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 21, 1994 · 21 hours before
- Departed
- 3R3 · Austin, TX
- Airport
- Byram Ranch Pvt Airstrip
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
- 24
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 59 total · 55 in this make and model · 25 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N888CG · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.