Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Blanco, TX
On October 12, 2012, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Blanco, TX. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 12, 2012
- Place
- Blanco, TX
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.052°N, 98.607°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121012X13500
Official records · CEN13FA010
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Non-Volatile Memory Recording Devices - Specialist Factual Report: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Non-Volatile Memory Recording Devices - Specialist Factual Report - Attachment 1: Document (CSV), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 11, 2012, about 1958 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company model R44 II, N474FA, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during cruise flight near Blanco, Texas. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated by Veracity Aviation LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Gillespie County Airport (T82), Fredericksburg, Texas, about 1942, and was en route to Huber Airpark Civic Club LLC Airport (E70), Seguin, Texas. According to recovered GPS data, the roundtrip cross-country flight, from the operator's home base at E70, located in Seguin, Texas, to Midland International Airport (MAF), in Midland, Texas, originally departed at 1241. The helicopter landed at MAF about 1503. According to fueling documentation, the accident helicopter was fueled with 37.7 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel before the return flight. The return flight departed MAF at 1735 and landed at T82 to refuel about 1936. There were no witnesses to the helicopter arriving at T82 nor while it was being refueled at the self-serve fueling stations. According to fueling documentation, at 1936, the accident helicopter was fueled with 15.92 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel. According to GPS data, the flight departed T82 at 1942. A witness, who was also a helicopter pilot, reported seeing a Robinson R44 helicopter depart toward the southeast; however, due to the dark night conditions he
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of helicopter control as a result of spatial disorientation due to dark night conditions and marginal visual flight rules weather conditions.
More accidents in TX
- Kubicek BB85, Jul 30, 2016
- Robertson C-414, Jul 29, 1982
- Textron Aviation B-300, Jun 30, 2019
- Beech B100, Nov 26, 1983
- Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A, Oct 13, 1984
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.
