Robinson R44 N445AP

Summary

On 21 June 2019 at about 17:15 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N445AP, operated by Farm & Ranch Helicopter Service Inc, was involved in an accident near La Ward, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2019 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

La Ward, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.8783, -96.4308

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N445AP

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Farm & Ranch Helicopter Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

La Ward → La Ward

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19TA178

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during a course reversal, which resulted in impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting helicopter aerial applications to a field and had just reversed course when he felt the helicopter start to descend. The pilot added power, "rolled the throttle all the way on," and increased collective and the descent continued. The pilot flared the helicopter and before it impacted the ground, the helicopter rolled and came to rest in a field, resulting in substantial damage. It is likely that the pilot lost control of the helicopter during the turn, resulting in the unexpected descent. Because the helicopter was at low altitude, the pilot did not have time to arrest the descent before impacting the ground. Postaccident examination found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.