Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sarita, Texas 78385
Thursday, January 27, 2000 8:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter's mission was to harvest Nilgai antelope. After the passenger shot a second Nilgai antelope, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter downwind at 50 knots and 70 feet agl, to lead the animal recovery vehicle to where the first antelope had fallen. The pilot executed a right turn to come to a hover over the antelope. As he started a 'quick-stop, the engine began to lug down.' He 'rolled on the throttle, overriding the governor, and nosed [the helicopter] over while lowering the collective.' The main rotor low rpm warning sounded about the time he applied forward cyclic. The helicopter was 'gaining airspeed but the rpm kept declining.' The pilot 'milked' the collective; however, he was unable to regain rotor rpm. At about 3-5 feet agl, the rotor rpm was at 80 percent. The pilot leveled the helicopter and attempted a run-on landing. The helicopter landed hard, and a main rotor blade struck the tail boom, separating it at mid-length.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain main rotor rpm, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/27/2000
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SARITA
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78385
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 12
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 532
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 27 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2330F
NTSB Number FTW00LA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier R22 BETA
Aircraft Serial Number 2153
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRAVIS BURRIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 801 NORTH TEXAS BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City ALICE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78332
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MESQUITE HELICOPTER SEVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ALICE AIRPORT HANGAR 4
Operator City ALICE
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 78333
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City KENNEDY RANCH
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 820
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --