What happened
On February 27, 2025, at approximately 1319 CST, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration N144SG, crashed near Uvalde, Texas, resulting in 2 fatal injuries to the pilot and passenger. The aircraft was being operated by Holt Helicopters Inc. for a Part 91 aerial survey flight intended to monitor white-tailed deer on the Two Sisters Ranch.
The flight was part of a wildlife management operation. The pilot, who had extensive experience in low-level aerial surveys, was conducting passes between 7/5 to 100 feet above ground level. The passenger was tasked with recording observations of deer. The aircraft also carried a 12-gauge shotgun for the purpose of dispatching invasive wild pigs.
The helicopter had departed the ranch at approximately 0730. After the aircraft failed to return for scheduled refueling, the ranch foreman alerted the pilot's wife, who also received an emergency notification from the pilot's phone via the Life360 application. First responders eventually located the wreckage in a remote area of the ranch characterized by trees, brush, and cactus, at an elevation of approximately 1,090 feet MSL.
The investigation
The wreckage sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor system, tailcone, main rotor system, and fuselage. An examination of the airframe revealed that the upper clevis of the forward right hydraulic servo had separated. Investigators noted damaged threads on the clevis and the presence of fretting dust on the clevis, the associated hardware, and the top of the servo body.
Maintenance records indicated that two new forward hydraulic servos had been installed on November 10, 2023. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on January 24, 2025. Because the Datcon Hour Meter sustained impact damage, the total airframe time at the time of the accident could not be determined.
The aircraft was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT). While the helicopter featured a Garmin GDL 50 unit, no ADS-B data was recovered for the flight. Investigators also analyzed a Garmin Aera 796 unit and the pilot's Garmin D2 watch.