Accident Overview
On February 27, 2025, about 1319 central standard time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 helicopter, registration N144SG, sustained substantial damage during an accident near Uvalde, Texas. The commercial pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial survey.
Flight Purpose and Details
According to the operator, the flight aimed to perform a low-level aerial survey of white-tailed deer on the Two Sisters Ranch in Uvalde. The pilot was employed by the operator and had extensive experience in low-level surveys and familiarity with the area. The passenger, a wildlife management employee of the ranch, recorded observations of deer numbers and types. A Benelli M2 12-gauge shotgun with buckshot shells was also aboard for dispatching wild pigs, classified as invasive species.
Typical survey profiles included passes at 75 to 100 ft above ground level, east to west, at airspeeds between 20 and 30 knots.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter departed from the ranch about 0730. Fueling support was staged on-site. The ranch foreman noted the helicopter was overdue for refueling and contacted the pilot's wife, who had received a Life360 emergency notification from the pilot's phone. First responders were alerted, and the wreckage was located in a remote, flat area of the ranch with trees, brush, and cactus. The accident site, at an elevation of about 1,090 ft mean sea level, was about 245 ft east of a dirt road near a wildlife feed and water station.
Damage and Examination
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor system, tailcone, and tail rotor system. The wreckage was recovered and transported to a secure location for examination. On-site inspection revealed that the upper clevis of the forward right hydraulic servo (part number D212-1, serial number 36692) had separated. The clevis threads were damaged, and fretting dust was present on the clevis, associated hardware, and the servo body. A small portion of green torque stripe paint remained above the palnut on the clevis. The helicopter had three hydraulic servos (two forward, one aft) on the top deck.
Maintenance Records
Airframe maintenance records indicate that on November 10, 2023, at 3,254.7 hours, two new forward hydraulic servos (ordered from RHC) were installed by Heli Tech, LLC of Uvalde. The most recent maintenance was a 100-hour inspection on January 24, 2025, at 4,019.12 hours, also performed by Heli Tech. The Datcon Hour Meter was impact-damaged, so the airframe time at the accident was undetermined.
Additional Information
The helicopter, a Raven II model, was powered by a Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 reciprocating engine. It was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT), which was not required by regulation. A Garmin GDL 50 unit was installed, but no Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data was found for the accident flight. A Garmin Aera 796 unit and the pilot’s Garmin D2 watch were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory. The three hydraulic servos were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory.
The operator held an Aerial Wildlife and Exotic Animal Management Permit M-73 from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, issued January 16, 2025. The ranch owner held a Landowner’s Authorization (LOA) to Manage Wildlife or Exotic Animals by Aircraft, issued February 25, 2025. The operator, based in Uvalde, uses a fleet of RHC R22 and R44 helicopters for aerial capture, eradication, and tagging of animals.