# NTSB FTW96LA131: Robinson R22B, N8141L, Garland, TX, February 24, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1996, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Garland, TX
- Coordinates: 32.880374, -96.649665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8804&lon=-96.6497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19770
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19770/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA131

## Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude and tail rotor clearance from the terrain, while demonstrating rearward movement in a hover.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, hover
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

While hovering, the pilot decided to demonstrate rearward hover to his passenger. The helicopter was less than five feet above ground level when the tail rotor contacted the ground. When the tail rotor struck the ground, directional control was lost, and the aircraft began to rotate to the right and roll left. The left skid contacted the ground causing the helicopter to roll to an inverted position. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft.

## Factual narrative

On February 24, 1996, 1315 central standard time, a Robinson Helicopter, R22B, N8141L, was substantially damaged while hovering at the Garland/Dallas Fort Worth Heliplex, Garland, Texas.  The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Sky Helicopters of Garland, Texas was the operator of the helicopter.  The helicopter had been hovering 10 minutes prior to the accident.

During an interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, and in a written statement, the pilot reported that he was demonstrating a reverse hover at the time of the accident.  He stated that he was hovering to the rear with a tail low attitude when the tail rotor contacted the ground.  Following the ground contact the pilot lost directional control due to the loss of anti-torque.  The aircraft began to spin to the right and roll left until the left skid struck the ground.  When the skid struck the ground the helicopter rolled on it's left side.

The pilot reported that there was no mechanical problems prior to the accident and that he was lower than five feet when hovering.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8141L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8141L-1997-07-11), registration cancelled 1997-07-11, S/N 2413 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R22B
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2413
- Airframe hours: 1341
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sky Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 29, 1995, 89 hours before
- Departed: T57
- Destination: T57
- Airport: T57, Garland/Dfw Heliplex

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 426 total, 351 in this make and model, 363 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19960224002669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960224002669A), Feb 24, 1996: Robsin R22BETA, Garland, TX, Destroyed. Tail rotor of helicopter struck ground and flipped over.

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.