Accident Details
On February 1, 2013, at approximately 1500 central standard time, a Robinson R22 BETA II helicopter, registration N3059Q, struck trees and impacted terrain on a private ranch near Gillett, Texas. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and the pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Karnes City, Texas, at about 1430.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot's accident report, he and his cousin were conducting a wild hog helicopter hunt on the family ranch. They sighted hogs along a creek, and the pilot descended to herd them out of the creek and into an open pasture. The pilot stated he was approximately 20 feet above 30-foot-tall trees and flying into the wind at very slow speed when the tail rotor malfunctioned, causing a loss of control. The helicopter began spinning to the right, and the pilot initiated an autorotation. He reported that he was able to steer the helicopter toward a livestock tank, hitting the ground hard and cracking the landing skid. The helicopter then rolled over onto its left side.
Investigation
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage. The inspector reported that the pilot believed he had lost tail rotor authority. The inspector located the tail rotor at the base of some trees near the stock tank and found no preimpact defects during the examination.