Robinson R-22 BETA N854WT

Summary

On 8 June 2003 at about 16:00 local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA registered N854WT was involved in an accident near Encinal, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 2003 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Encinal, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.0869, -99.5692

Aircraft

Robinson R-22 BETA

Registration

N854WT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Encinal → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA168

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a cattle herding flight, the pilot's attention was diverted by a bull running towards the helicopter. The pilot was trying to herd the bull through a gate, and was able to stop the bull while he was hovering about 5-10 feet agl. The pilot further reported that the bull suddenly started to run underneath the helicopter and he "pulled out of the way to avoid the bull." Subsequently, he "felt the helicopter contact some brush" and executed a 180-degree pedal turn when he "felt the helicopter begin to vibrate." The pilot then executed an auto rotational landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.