Robinson R44 N804DF

Summary

On 19 February 2017 at about 15:45 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N804DF was involved in an accident near Spofford, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 February 2017 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Spofford, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Frontier (55XS)

Coordinates

29.1664, -100.4183

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N804DF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Spofford → Hondo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA165

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's decision to hover-taxi out of the hangar and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the hangar.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the skid-equipped helicopter reported that, the night before the accident flight, he hover-taxied into a hangar because convective activity was approaching the airport and he did not have ground-handling equipment (wheels) to move the helicopter. The following morning, he attempted to hover-taxi out of the hangar for a positioning flight, but the main rotor blade struck the top of the hangar door when the helicopter was about three-quarters of the way out of the hangar. Subsequently, the helicopter spun and rolled over onto its left side. The main rotor and tailboom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.