Robinson R44 N811S

Summary

On 10 January 2023 at about 12:40 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N811S, operated by Smith Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Fowlerton, Texas, United States. One person was on board and 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

10 January 2023 at 12:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fowlerton, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.2554, -98.7394

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N811S

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2020

Engines

1

Operator

Smith Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cotulla → Cotulla

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA086

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with trees, which resulted in an uncontrollable spin due to tail rotor damage.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the flight’s purpose was to guide cattle while at low altitude. During a turn with trees in the vicinity, the pilot heard a noise and felt a bump in the flight controls. The helicopter began to spin uncontrollably and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor system, tail rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. Examination revealed that the tail rotor gear box and tail rotor (TR) blades were separated from the helicopter. The gear box housing fracture surfaces were consistent with overload. The size/shape of the dents and tree debris lodged in the leading edge of the TR blades was consistent with the size/shape of the tree branches that were broken. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.