The helicopter pilot was herding cattle when the Robinson R22’s tailrotor hit a mesquite tree branch near Seymour, Texas.
The helicopter began a yaw to the right and a made two full rotations as the pilot maneuvered to open terrain.
He rolled the throttle off, stopped the yaw, and the helicopter landed hard.
The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that contributed to the accident. An examination of the helicopter conducted by FAA inspectors also did not find any mechanical anomalies.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at low altitude.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This April 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Yee Haw!
“Texas…It’s like a Whole Other Country!” Good thing it was mesquite; more wood chips for the smoker.
A pilot friend of mine knocked a landing gear off his bird and killed a bull while trying to herd the animal out of a pasture so he could start dusting years ago out in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Flew the thing to an airfield with a mechanic before landing. No one hurt (except the bull) but tore up his spray rig pretty well. Sometimes we just break our tools because we’re not using them the right way. It happens…but when it’s an aircraft it makes the news.
Agreed! I just broke my new half inch breakover bar, with the help of my two hundred pounds on a three foot cheater bar. They just don’t make them like they used too……..lol