No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 accident at Fowlerton, TX, 10 Jan 2023

Fowlerton, TX, United States

On January 10, 2023, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 operated by SMITH HELICOPTERS INC was involved in an aviation accident near Fowlerton, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with trees, which resulted in an uncontrollable spin due to tail rotor damage. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with trees, which resulted in an uncontrollable spin due to tail rotor damage.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotAltitude — Not attained/maintainedContributed to outcome