History of Flight
On December 10, 2020, at approximately 0930 central standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration N7085Z, was destroyed in an accident near Colorado City, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal operation under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a family member, the purpose was to herd cattle on a ranch. The flight departed from the pilot's home helicopter pad about 0900. No radio or distress calls were reported, and there were no witnesses. Visual flight rules conditions prevailed at the time. The accident was reported to local authorities around 1400.
Personnel Information
The pilot's logbooks were not available for review. Flight time estimates were provided by a family member. The pilot's certificate was revoked in 2011 for flying while intoxicated and reinstated in 2014.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter's maintenance history could not be determined, as no logbooks were available.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located on relatively flat rural terrain, with a debris field approximately 400 yards long. Initial fragments included parts of the left landing skid and forward skid strut. About 30 yards ahead, fragments of a main rotor blade skin were found. The main wreckage—comprising the cabin, main rotor assembly, tail boom, and tail rotor assembly—was located about 400 yards from the initial skid fragments. There was no evidence of an in-flight collision with fixed obstacles. The debris pattern was consistent with an in-flight breakup at low altitude. A tail rotor driveshaft segment was twisted and fractured forward of the aft flex coupling, indicative of a sudden stoppage. The tail rotor gearbox rotated freely with no anomalies, and the tail rotor blades had minor dents on outer skins without leading edge damage. The tail rotor pitch control operated properly. Main rotor blades exhibited impact damage near mid-span and damage to leading edge spars, with sections of skin and honeycomb separated. The cabin nose showed impact damage consistent with main rotor blade contact before ground impact. Paint transfer marks on damaged main rotor blades and the left landing gear strut matched the shape of a main rotor blade spar. Multiple flight control fractures were angular and jagged, consistent with overload. Tail rotor pedals were jammed with the left pedal forward. Except for impact damage, flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the main rotor head and tail rotor assembly. Main rotor blade fragments showed no pre-impact delamination; all damage was impact-related. Tail rotor blade damage was also impact-consistent. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the engine. Rotational continuity from the engine to the main and tail rotor gearboxes was established, and rotational signatures were present on the engine crankshaft. No pre-impact structural anomalies were identified.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas determined the cause of death as blunt force injuries, with the manner classified as accident. No significant natural disease was found. Toxicology testing identified delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at 132 ng/ml and its inactive metabolite at 329.5 ng/ml in chest cavity blood. Additional testing by the FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory found THC at 81.7 ng/ml in cavity blood, 2,664.5 ng/ml in gastric contents, 29.5 ng/g in liver, 914.4 ng/g in lung, and 94.8 ng/g in brain. The psychoactive metabolite 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC was present at 96 ng/ml in cavity blood, 171.1 ng/g in liver, 46.7 ng/g in lung, and 44.1 ng/g in brain. The inactive metabolite carboxy-delta-9-THC was detected at 356.6 ng/ml in cavity blood, 3,749.5 ng/g in liver, 190.9 ng/g in lung, and 94 ng/g in brain.