Robinson R22 N127RB

Summary

On 3 November 2001 at about 18:30 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N127RB, operated by Sky Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Seagoville, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 November 2001 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Seagoville, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.6492, -96.5395

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N127RB

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Sky Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Garland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02FA028

1 person died.

the flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance with wires while maneuvering along a river.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot-rated student receiving instruction stated that the objective of the flight lesson was to work on confined area and pinnacle landings. The student stated that he had practiced a number of confined area landings in the local area and along a river. The student added that following his last landing/takeoff, the flight instructor took over flying to give him a break. The flight instructor flew the helicopter north of the last few landing areas to review their lesson. The flight instructor turned the helicopter south and flew along the river instructing the student and commenting on the various landing areas. The student stated that he was looking over his right shoulder at one of the previous landing areas, and looked forward to see wires in front of the helicopter. The student exclaimed, "wires!" and saw the instructor pull up on the collective and left on the cyclic. The helicopter pitched up and rolled to the left; subsequently impacting trees and terrain along the left side of the river. Examination of the accident site revealed that there was a set of three unmarked wires; one which remained hanging across the river, and two others that were laying on the west bank of the river. The helicopter came to rest on its left side among trees approximately 100 yards from the wires. The wire that remained hanging across the river was approximately 40 feet above the river, and was below the tops of the trees along the banks. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the mast cowling displayed two marks and tears perpendicular to the mast.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.