Robinson R44 N94WC

Summary

On 6 June 2022 at about 14:50 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N94WC was involved in an accident near Henderson, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 2022 at 14:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Henderson, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Henderson County Airport (RFI)

Coordinates

32.1417, -94.8517

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N94WC

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA234

1 person was seriously injured.

The partial loss of engine power in a hover due to a stuck exhaust valve.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot was practicing hover takeoffs and landings in a crosswind. The passenger reported that, while hovering before a landing, the helicopter shuddered, and the left skid contacted the ground. The helicopter rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom. Examination of the helicopter’s flight control systems and main and tail rotor drive systems did not show any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the No. 2 cylinder revealed that the exhaust push rod was bent and the exhaust valve was stuck. Borescope inspection of the No. 2 cylinder showed that the exhaust valve had contacted the piston and the intake valve appeared to be recessed in the No. 2 valve seat. The loss of engine power was most likely due to the stuck exhaust valve on the No. 2 cylinder.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.