ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Asherton, TX — February 15, 2015
Event Information
| Date | February 15, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN15CA153 |
| Event ID | 20150225X45502 |
| Location | Asherton, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 28.55944, -99.41000 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER |
| Model | R22 BETA |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot did not maintain adequate clearance from the trees.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot, he was herding cattle with the helicopter. He descended to an altitude of about 10 feet to get the cattle to turn and enter a pen. After the cattle entered the pen, he maneuvered away and gained altitude to clear some nearby trees. The pilot thought the helicopter was clear of the trees; however, the tailrotor impacted a tree. The helicopter started to spin, so he reduced the throttle to stop the spin. The helicopter impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage the main rotor blades , fuselage, and tailboom.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.