Robinson R44 N514CD

Summary

On 25 March 2022 at about 16:27 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N514CD, operated by Sky Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Rowlett, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 March 2022 at 16:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Rowlett, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.9079, -96.5822

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N514CD

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Sky Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Garland → Rockwall

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22FA151

2 people died.

A loss of helicopter control while maneuvering, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom in flight, tail boom separation, and an uncontrolled descent.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

**This report was modified on April 29, 2024. Please see the docket for the original report.** According to the operator, the lesson syllabus for the instructional helicopter flight included emergency procedures, equipment malfunctions, and vortex ring state (VRS) recognition and recovery. Flight track data, video, and a witness statement indicated that the helicopter was maneuvering at slow speeds about 2,000 ft mean sea level in the minute before the accident and shortly before a 4-ft section of the tailboom separated and the helicopter entered a spiraling descent to the ground. The witness stated that the helicopter appeared to hover when the tail boom separated. The 4-ft section of the tailboom which included the tail rotor came to rest on the roof of a commercial building about 300 ft from the main wreckage. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor elastomeric teeter stops were severely damaged, and the brackets were bent. The main rotor drive shaft displayed scuff marks where the teeter stops were damaged, consistent with extreme teetering of the main rotor. Main rotor blade contact marks and dents were consistent with the main rotor blades contacting the tailboom in flight, resulting in its separation. Examination of the helicopter and engine did not reveal any preaccident anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The syllabus for the accident flight included an introduction to VRS and given the flight track information and witness statement, it is possible that the flight instructor was demonstrating, or the pilot receiving instruction was performing, a VRS entry/recovery when the accident occurred. However, since detailed information regarding the helicopter’s flight control and engine parameters was not available, the exact maneuver being conducted at the time of the tail boom separation could not be determined. The main rotor’s contact with the tailboom is consistent with improper flight control inputs or low rotor RPM. Toxicology testing of the flight instructor revealed the presence of bupropion, an antidepressant medication. Based on the available information, it could not be determined whether effects of the flight instructor’s bupropion use or an associated condition contributed to the accident. Toxicological testing of the pilot receiving instruction revealed the presence of cetirizine, an antihistamine. It is unlikely that the effects of this medication contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.