On 25 Jul 2008, a Robinson R22 operated by William T. Skinner was involved in an aviation accident near Rosharon, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The tail rotor dipped into the rice, causing it to fail, resulting in loss of control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A commercial pilot lost control of a single-engine helicopter after the tail rotor struck a rice field during low-altitude maneuvering, causing the aircraft to impact the ground hard and sever the tail boom.
Accident Details
A commercial pilot was maneuvering a single-engine helicopter at low altitude over a rice field when the tail rotor dipped into the rice, causing it to fail. The pilot subsequently lost control of the helicopter, which impacted the ground hard on the skids. The impact caused the main rotor blade to flex downward and sever the tail boom.
Pilot Statement
When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated, "There is very little margin for error and no time to correct with the ground so close. There is a reason why operating in the shaded area is discouraged." He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies prior to the accident.
Findings
No mechanical issues were identified. The tail rotor failure resulted from contact with the rice field during low-altitude flight.
Probable cause
The tail rotor dipped into the rice, causing it to fail, resulting in loss of control.
Contributing factors
Fatigue/wear/corrosionOwner/builder
Related events
Same aircraft family
20 Apr 2026 — ROBINSON R22
6 Feb 2026 — ROBINSON R22
2 Dec 2025 — ROBINSON R22
14 Oct 2025 — ROBINSON R22 BETA (ESCOLA DE AVIAÇÃO CIVIL ASAS ROTATIVAS LTDAb)