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Location:
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Pecos, Texas
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Accident Number:
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CEN25LA237
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Date & Time:
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July 4, 2025, 11:30 Local
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Registration:
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N992TP
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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COMPANY R44 II
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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 None
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Personal
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Analysis
The student helicopter pilot stated that during a personal flight, he and a pilot departed the airport, flew to a ranch and returned. The pilot did not hold a flight instructor certificate. Upon return, they flew to the airport fuel facility to obtain fuel. A witness stated that the student pilot told him he was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident during a hover taxi and due to gusty wind conditions and not being comfortable, he transferred the flight controls to the pilot. The student pilot stated as the helicopter nearly touched down in front of the fuel facility, a big gust of wind, presumably a whirlwind, shot the helicopter straight up about 20-25 ft, and the helicopter did a quick 360° turn and rolled left before it came crashing down. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor, fuselage, and main rotor. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during gusty wind conditions.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft (general) - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Decision making/judgment - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-hover Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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73,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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Unknown
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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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 3 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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February 1, 2019
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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October 10, 2017
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Flight Time:
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(Estimated)
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Student pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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52,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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None
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Restraint Used:
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Unknown
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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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 3 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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July 3, 2025
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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February 7, 2019
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Flight Time:
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209 hours (Total, all aircraft), 31 hours (Total, this make and model), 103 hours (Pilot In
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Command, all aircraft), 31 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3
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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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N992TP
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COMPANY
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Model/Series:
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R44 II
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2017
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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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14089
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last
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April 15, 2025 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2500 lbs
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Inspection:
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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664.03 Hrs as of last
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming Engines
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inspection
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ELT:
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C91 installed
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Engine Model/Series:
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IO-540-AE1A5
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Registered Owner:
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On file
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Rated Power:
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235 Horsepower
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s)
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None
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Held:
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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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E01,2615 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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33 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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10:55 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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69°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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9 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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3 knots /
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Turbulence Type
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None / None
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Forecast/Actual:
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Wind Direction:
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Turbulence Severity
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N/A / N/A
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Forecast/Actual:
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Altimeter Setting:
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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28°C / 23°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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Pecos, TX (PEQ)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Pecos, TX (PEQ)
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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08:30 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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Pecos Municipal Airport PEQ
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Runway Surface Type:
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Airport Elevation:
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2613 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Dry
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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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Full stop
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Injuries:
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 None
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Latitude,
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31.382389,-103.51072(est)
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Longitude:
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Gallo, Mitchell
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Additional Participating
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Jason Wilson; Federal Aviation Administration, Lubbock FSDO; Lubbock, TX
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Persons:
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Original Publish Date:
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October 9, 2025
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Last Revision Date:
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Investigation Class:
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Class 4
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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=200475
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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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