Robinson Helicopter Company R44 accident near Port O'Connor, TX
On March 7, 2023, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Port O'Connor, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 7, 2023
- Place
- Port O'Connor, TX
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 28.415°N, 96.480°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230307106842
Official records · CEN23FA125
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 6, 2023, about 2157 central standard time, a Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) R-44II helicopter, N494SH, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Port O’Connor, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. A review of ADS-B data showed that earlier on the day of the accident, the helicopter departed from the pilot’s residence in Port O’Connor, Texas, and flew to the Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), Pearland, Texas. The helicopter then returned to the pilot’s residence. The helicopter was equipped with a Garmin Aera 796 unit. The limited data available for the unit showed the helicopter departed from a road next to the pilot’s residence and traveled to the northwest, with the data terminating shortly thereafter. The limited ADS-B data for the accident flight showed a fight path starting from an area just to the north of the pilot’s residence. The helicopter traveled to the east, passing over a lake, and then performed a turn to the north near a road. The helicopter climbed and then descended toward the south. The ADS-B data terminated over an open field next to a home. The direct distance from the departure location to the accident site was about 0.25 miles on a northeast heading. The area to the east of the accident site consisted of swamp with no observed ground lighting sources. The helicopter came to rest on a flat grass field, where a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage. According to the passenger’s daughter,
Probable cause
The pilot’s initiation of the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of helicopter control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s flicker vertigo during the flight.
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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.
