Robinson R44 II N163RK
9 July 2023 · Marble Falls, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 July 2023 at about 14:47 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N163RK, operated by Lone Star Aircraft Holdings LLC., was involved in an accident near Marble Falls, Texas, United States. 3 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 14:47
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Marble Falls, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.5703, -98.2633
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II
- Registration
- N163RK
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2006
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Lone Star Aircraft Holdings LLC.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lago Vista → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR23LA263
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from an unknown source.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the helicopter was conducting an aerial observation flight when, about 250 ft above ground level (agl) and about 50 knots indicated airspeed, the engine lost total power. The pilot entered an autorotation, negotiated a powerline, and landed on a hill. During the landing, the helicopter rocked forward and aft, striking and substantially damaging the lower vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination revealed water and a reddish-colored polyamide substance in the main fuel tank, auxiliary fuel tank, electric fuel pump, and gascolator. Further examination of the polyamide was inconclusive for a single known substance. The pilot reported that during the three-day mission, he refueled the helicopter at three different airports as well as his own personal fuel supply. Postaccident examination of the owner’s personal fuel supply and each of the airport’s fuel delivery systems did not reveal the presence of contamination. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination; however, the source of the contamination could not be determined based on the available information.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 May 2023 | Robinson R44 II | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | Willow Creek Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 May 2023 | Robinson R44 II | Bradenton, Florida, United States | Registration Pending | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 2023 | Robinson R44 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 2023 | Robinson R44 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 6 Dec 2023 | Robinson R44 II | Calexico, California, United States | Merten Aviation Services LLC | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jan 2023 | Robinson R44 | Hamilton Island, Australia | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2023 | Beechcraft C23 | Gonzales, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 2023 | Bell APT70 | Mineral Wells, Texas, United States | Bell Textron Inc | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 2023 | Cessna 150F | Hillsboro, Texas, United States | - | Unknown | - |
| 14 May 2023 | Robinson R22 BETA | Brady, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Taylorcraft F21 | Holliday, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 May 2023 | Cirrus SR22 | Midland, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |