Accident Details
On July 8, 2019, at approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 II Beta helicopter, registered as N334DC, was substantially damaged during an accident near Water Valley, Texas. The helicopter was performing an aerial observation flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and a passenger were conducting a wildlife survey at the time of the incident; neither occupant was injured.
Sequence of Events
Approximately 1.5 hours into the flight, while flying at an altitude between 50 and 100 feet above the top of a canyon and at an airspeed of about 35 mph, the engine began to bog, and both the engine and main rotor lost revolutions per minute (rpm). The pilot lowered the collective, rolled the engine throttle control to full rpm, and attempted to regain engine and main rotor rpm. Despite these efforts, the rpm continued to decay. The pilot then elected to conduct a forced landing to an opening in the vegetation below the helicopter.
During the descent into the vegetation, the main rotor blades struck trees. Upon ground impact, the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. The tail boom separated from the fuselage, and the main rotor blades along with the fuselage sustained substantial damage.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the helicopter and its engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations prior to the accident. The fracture signatures on the tail rotor blades were consistent with separation of the blades under power.