- Date
- June 21, 1998, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place
- Freer, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N982SHRobinson R22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980621016829A
- Case key
- 20657
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 tail rotor-ground clearance due to his improper flare 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
The 2,000 hour helicopter pilot lost control of the aircraft after the tail rotor impacted the ground while he flared the helicopter. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that while herding cattle, a bull separated from the herd and the pilot turned the helicopter towards the bull to gather him back into the herd. The pilot added that as he approached the bull, he flared the helicopter in a nose high attitude to stop the forward movement. The pilot further stated that he lost control of the helicopter after the tail rotor impacted the ground. The right skid broke as the helicopter spun 180 degrees to the right, coming to rest on its right side. The 1998 model helicopter had accumulated a total of 233 hours since new. A completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was not returned to the NTSB by either the pilot nor the operator.
Factual narrative
On June 21, 1998, at 0850 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N982SH, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while hovering near Freer, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by Smith Helicopters Inc., of Laredo, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cattle herding flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the operator's trailer 600 yards from the accident site, approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that while herding cattle, a bull separated from the herd and the pilot turned the helicopter towards the bull to gather him back into the herd. The pilot added that as he approached the bull, he flared the helicopter in a nose high attitude to stop the forward movement. The pilot further stated that he lost control of the helicopter after the tail rotor impacted the ground.
The right skid broke as the helicopter spun 180 degrees to the right, coming to rest on its right side. There was no fire. The FAA inspector confirmed that the main rotor system was damaged and the airframe sustained structural damage.
The 2,000 hour pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems prior to the tail rotor impacting the ground and the subsequent loss of control. The 1998 model helicopter had accumulated a total of 233 hours since new.
Despite repeated attempts by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, neither the pilot nor the operator returned the completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N982SH
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2786
- Airframe hours
- 233
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-360-1AD, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Smith Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
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
- 26
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total · 180 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 135° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.