Robinson R22 BETA N7521Z

Summary

On 27 October 2024 at about 13:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7521Z, operated by Veracity Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Pearland, 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

27 October 2024 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pearland, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Pearland Regional (LVJ)

Coordinates

29.5213, -95.2421

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N7521Z

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Veracity Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pearland → Pearland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA031

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during lift off.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he increased engine power to lift off and initiated a pedal turn toward the adjacent taxiway. He recalled that the helicopter made a “violent lurch” to the right, so he lowered the collective abruptly but that did not seem to make any difference. He did not remember anything further. Airport surveillance video footage captured the helicopter lift off and translate a short distance to the right. The right skid appeared to contact the ground again, and the helicopter immediately began rotating to the right. This was accompanied by dramatic pitch oscillations. The aft portion of the tailboom impacted the paved ramp surface, and the tailboom and empennage separated. Rotation of the helicopter continued until it collided with a nearby parked airplane. The helicopter sustained damage to both main rotor blades, the tailboom, tail rotor assembly, and the empennage. An examination helicopter did not reveal any preimpact anomalies consistent with an inability to maintain control of the helicopter. A review of the surveillance video indicated that the helicopter began a dynamic rollover when the right skid dragged on the ground immediately after lifting off. Based on the response of the helicopter, the pilot likely increased collective pitch to increase height but did not provide sufficient left anti-torque pedal input to counter the increased torque. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter before it impacted the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.