Robinson R22 BETA accident near Del Valle, TX
On June 27, 2011, a Robinson R22 BETA (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Del Valle, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 27, 2011
- Place
- Del Valle, TX
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.160°N, 97.600°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110627X51003
Official records · CEN11FA422
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 27, 2011, at 1223 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 BETA helicopter, N7779M, struck trees and impacted terrain near Del Valle, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged and a post-impact fire ensued. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the operator under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The cross-country flight originated from Taylor (T74), Texas, about 1205, and was en route to Luling, Texas. According to the owner, the pilot was en route to Luling to give a friend his first helicopter ride. There were two witnesses standing on the south side of the Colorado River. They said the helicopter was flying north to south just above the trees. As it crossed the Colorado River, they heard a loud "pop" or "bang" and saw something separate from the helicopter and fall into the river. Asked if the object floated or sank, the witnesses said they did not pay any attention because when they heard the helicopter crash and saw the smoke, they ran to the crash site. PERSONNEL (CREW) INFORMATION The pilot, age 60, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single/multiengine land, instrument-airplane, and rotorcraft-helicopter ratings. His second class airman medical certificate, dated October 2, 2009, contained the restriction: “Must wear corrective lenses and possess glasses for near and intermediate vision.” According to the o
Probable cause
The divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for reasons that cannot be determined because the pilot’s control inputs leading up to the event are unknown, resulting in mast bumping and main rotor blade separation.
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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.
