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Location:
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De Kalb, Texas
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Accident Number:
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CEN23LA130
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Date & Time:
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March 11, 2023, 15:30 Local
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Registration:
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N4164T
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Loss of control in flight
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Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 Minor, 2
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None
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation
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Analysis
The flight was conducted to hunt feral hogs. The pilot reported that a group of hogs had entered a large field, and he lowered the collective to maneuver the helicopter closer. When he lowered the collective, he perceived a loss of engine and rotor speed. The helicopter immediately began to lose lift. Once the pilot realized that he could not recover the helicopter, he attempted a running (skid-on) landing. However, the landing skids got stuck in the muddy field, the helicopter rocked forward, and the main rotor blades struck the ground causing the aircraft to roll over.
The pilot reported the low rotor speed warning did not activate when the rotor speed started to decay. He also stated that all required preflight checklists were complied with before the flight began and no anomalies were noted.
A postrecovery examination was unremarkable with exception of the low rotor warning system, which was not operational at the time of the examination. Specifically, the warning system did not activate when the collective control was brought off the low pitch stop and increased to full travel. The reason for the failure of the low rotor warning system was not determined.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the helicopter due to his failure to maintain rotor speed. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the helicopter’s low rotor speed warning system.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Pilot
Aircraft Central warning - Inoperative
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Emergency descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
On March 11, 2023, about 1530 central standard time, a Robinson Helicopter R-44, N4164T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near De Kalb, Texas. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, a second passenger sustained minor injuries, and a third passenger was seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight.
The flight was conducted to hunt feral hogs. The pilot reported that a group of hogs had entered a large field, and he lowered the collective to maneuver the helicopter closer. When he lowered the collective, he perceived a loss of engine and rotor speed. The helicopter immediately began to lose lift. Once the pilot realized that he could not recover the helicopter, he attempted a running (skid-on) landing. However, the landing skids got stuck in the muddy field, the helicopter rocked forward, and the main rotor blades struck the ground causing the aircraft to roll over.
The pilot reported the low rotor speed warning did not activate when the rotor speed started to decay. He also stated that all required preflight checklists were complied with before the flight began and no anomalies were noted.
The helicopter sustained damage to the fuselage, main rotor blades, and tail boom. The aft portion of the tail boom, with the tail rotor assembly attached, was separated from the remainder of the airframe. It was located adjacent to the fuselage at the accident site.
Postrecovery airframe and engine examinations, which included an 8-minute engine run, did not reveal any evidence of an in-flight structural failure, a flight control malfunction, or an inability of the engine to produce rated power. Although, the separated portion of the tail boom and tail rotor assembly were present at the accident site, they were not with the wreckage when recovered.
The postrecovery examinations were unremarkable with exception of the low rotor warning system, which was not operational at the time of the examination. Specifically, the warning system did not activate when the collective control was brought off the low pitch stop and increased to full travel. The low rotor warning indicator bulb illuminated, and the warning horn emitted an audible sound when electrical current was applied. The reason for the failure of the low rotor warning system was not determined.
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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38,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Multi-engine
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Seat Occupied:
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Rear
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land
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Airplane
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 Without
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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May 20, 2022
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waivers/limitations
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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November 2, 2022
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Flight Time:
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1972 hours (Total, all aircraft), 355 hours (Total, this make and model), 1750 hours (Pilot In
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Command, all aircraft), 135 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 70 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft),
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10 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Registration:
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N4164T
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Model/Series:
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R44
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2008
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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1882
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last
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December 10, 2022 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2400 lbs
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Inspection:
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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16.9 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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2065.3 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Installed, activated, did not aid
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Engine Model/Series:
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O-540-F1B5
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in locating accident
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Registered Owner:
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HOTEL SIERRA AVIATION LLC
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Rated Power:
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260 Horsepower
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Operator:
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HOTEL SIERRA AVIATION LLC
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Operating Certificate(s)
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None
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Held:
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Operator Does Business As:
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N/A
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Operator Designator Code:
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N/A
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KTXK,390 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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31 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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15:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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95°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Scattered / 2000 ft AGL
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Visibility
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9 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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Broken / 2700 ft AGL
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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8 knots / 0 knots
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Turbulence Type
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/
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Forecast/Actual:
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Wind Direction:
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190°
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Turbulence Severity
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/
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Forecast/Actual:
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Altimeter Setting:
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29.62 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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22°C / 17°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Haworth, OK (PVT)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Haworth, OK (PVT)
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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15:00 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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N/A N/A
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Runway Surface Type:
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Airport Elevation:
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Standing water;Vegetation
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Runway Used:
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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None
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger
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1 Serious, 1 Minor, 1 None
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Injuries:
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|
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Ground Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 Minor, 2 None
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Latitude,
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33.658,-94.6375
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Longitude:
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Sorensen, Timothy
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Additional Participating
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Jimenez Perez; FAA Flight Standards; Irving, TX
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Persons:
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Original Publish Date:
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January 2, 2025
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Last Revision Date:
|
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Investigation Class:
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Class 3
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106877
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.
The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.
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