N334DCRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA · 2003

On July 8, 2019, about 1730 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 II Beta helicopter, N334DC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Water Valley, Texas. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight .

The pilot and passenger were conducting a wildlife survey. About 1.5 hours into the flight, at an altitude between 50 and 100 ft above the top of the canyon and an airspeed of about 35 mph, the "engine began to bog" and the both the engine and main rotor lost rpm.The pilot stated that he lowered the collective, rolled the engine throttle control to full rpm, and attempted to regain the engine and main rotor rpm. The rpm continued to decay so the pilot 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 the trees. The helicopter rolled over on its left side during the ground impact. The tail boom separated from the fuselage and the main rotor blades and fuselage were substantially damaged.

An examination of the helicopter and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations prior to the accident. The tail rotor blade fracture signatures were consistent with separation of the blades under power.

The instructor reported that his student was taxing the helicopter in a north direction along a taxiway parallel to runway 12/30 with a near direct tailwind of 10 knots with gusts to 19. The student started to lose tail rotor authority over the helicopter. At this time the instructor took control of the helicopter and proceeded to apply full left pedal until they regained tail rotor authority and directional control. Because of the strong winds from the south, the instructor opted to keep control of the helicopter until they were airborne and he proceeded to continue their taxi to the displaced threshold of runway 12. Upon reaching the displaced threshold, the instructor started a 220 degree turn to the left in order to line up with a takeoff direction to the south into the wind. The instructor reported that half way through the turn the helicopter violently yawed to the left, and he applied full right pedal to cancel the yaw but was unable to arrest the helicopters left yawing moment. The helicopter landed hard on the skids, damaging the main rotor and severing the tail boom aft of the tail rotor blades hazard guard and before the tail rotor transmission. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the helicopter prior to the flight. The wind limitation listed in the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the helicopter is 25 knots including any gust factor.