Robinson R44 N7085Z

Summary

On 10 December 2020 at about 15:30 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N7085Z was involved in an accident near Colorado City, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 December 2020 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Colorado City, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.3156, -100.9472

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N7085Z

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA084

2 people died.

The pilot’s loss of control and exceedance of performance and/or structural limitations during low-altitude operations, which resulted in an inflight breakup.. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment from the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger departed on a flight to herd cattle via helicopter. There were no witnesses to the accident. Examination of the wreckage and debris pattern was consistent with an inflight break-up at low altitude. Main rotor blade contact marks were found on the cabin section of the fuselage and likely occurred before ground impact. No preimpact anomalies were found with helicopter or engine. Toxicology of the pilot identified high levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the active compound in cannabis), as well as its active and inactive metabolites. Even accounting for postmortem redistribution, the levels of THC detected indicated recent use of cannabis and a very high likelihood of impairment. Given that gastric and liver levels were very high while lung levels were much lower, it is likely that the pilot used an edible form of the drug. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot lost control and exceeded the performance and/or structural limitations of the helicopter while flying at low-level, resulting in an inflight breakup. It is likely that the pilot’s impairment from his recent use of cannabis contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.