Robinson R44 II N518SJ

Summary

On 23 April 2009 at about 16:00 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N518SJ, operated by Jobeco Materials LLC, was involved in an accident near Kent, Texas, United States. 4 people were 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

23 April 2009 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kent, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

None (None)

Coordinates

31.0401, -104.8298

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N518SJ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Jobeco Materials LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kent → Kent

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA270

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot and three passengers were circling over rural terrain at an altitude of 150 feet above ground level and approximately 219 pounds overweight for the flight conditions when the pilot slowed to 10 knots with a tailwind. The helicopter began to lose main rotor rpm and the low-rotor aural warning sounded. The pilot lowered the collective in an attempt to maintain rotor rpm, but there was insufficient altitude to recover. The helicopter hit the ground with the tail rotor first and the body of the helicopter landed hard and skidded forward, crushing the left skid. The main rotors flexed downward during impact and severed the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical deficiencies, and that the accident would likely not have happened if he had turned into a headwind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.