Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Rowlett, TX
On March 25, 2022, a Robinson Helicopter R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Rowlett, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 25, 2022
- Place
- Rowlett, TX
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.908°N, 96.582°W
- NTSB ID
- 20220325104828
Official records · CEN22FA151
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 25, 2022, about 1127 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Rowlett, Texas. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the operator, the accident flight was the second flight of the day for the flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction. The first flight, which was lesson 10 of the training syllabus, was completed successfully. The accident flight was lesson 11, which included pre-solo maneuvers, introduction/simulation of emergency procedures, equipment malfunctions, and vortex ring state (VRS) recognition and recovery. Video provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) showed the helicopter and its separated tailboom and tail rotor section falling. The video did not show the actual in-flight separation of the tail section. About the last minute of the automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data for the flight showed that the helicopter was maneuvering at various slow airspeeds and altitudes. At 1126:07, the helicopter was about 1,975 ft mean sea level (msl) and flying at 7 knots ground speed. (See figure 1.) Figure 1. Final Minute of Flight Track from ADS-B Data The ADS-B data points were consistent with a witness report. The witness heard the helicopter and did not think much of it until after a minute, when he noticed that the helicopter was not moving. He then looked up and saw the helicopter
Probable cause
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.
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.
