19 Feb 2017: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II — Helicopter Tours of Texas

19 Feb 2017: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II — Helicopter Tours of Texas

No fatalities • Spofford, TX, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to hover-taxi out of the hangar and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the hangar.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot of a skid-equipped helicopter reported that the night before the accident flight, he hover-taxied into a hangar because convective activity was approaching the airport and he did not have ground-handling equipment (wheels) to move the helicopter. The following morning, he attempted to hover-taxi out of the hangar for a positioning flight, but the main rotor blade struck the top of the hangar door when the helicopter was about ¾ of the way out of the hangar. Subsequently, the helicopter spun and rolled over onto its left side.

The main rotor and tail boom sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • cause Pilot
  • Effect on equipment
  • Decision related to condition

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 140/14kt, vis 5sm

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