Robinson R44 accident near Bartlett, TX
On April 28, 2008, a Robinson R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Bartlett, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 28, 2008
- Place
- Bartlett, TX
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.790°N, 97.419°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080505X00592
NTSB summary
On April 28, 2008, approximately 1030 central daylight time (CDT), a single-engine Robinson R44 helicopter, N477SH, was destroyed by a post-crash fire after impacting the ground following an attempted takeoff from a private field, near Bartlett, Texas. The pilot received minor injuries and the single passenger sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a written statement to the NTSB the pilot stated that, "... the helicopter came off the ground approximately 2 feet, but I felt it was in a malfunction mode, rotated 30 degrees to the left, and set it back down on both skids. While in the malfunction mode, I felt a jar to my left pedal and/or side." The pilot added, that he thought the main rotor blade had hit the tail cone and disintegrated. Seeing a fire in or above the engine area, the pilot told his passenger to exit the helicopter; however, the passenger seemed to have trouble opening the left door. The pilot stated that by the time he exited the helicopter on the right side and walked around the front of the helicopter, the passenger had gotten out of the helicopter and shut the door. The pilot added that the passenger started forward, turned, and walked past the helicopter's rear door and into the fire. The pilot was able to pull the passenger away from the fire. The helicopter's airframe was largely consumed by the post crash fire. The pa
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from terrain (embankment) during takeoff.
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Browse: Texas · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
