N2330Y – Robinson R22 – 2008-07-25 NTSB Accident Report

On July 25, 2008, a Robinson R22 (N2330Y) was involved in an incident near Rosharon, TX. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude.

The commercial pilot was maneuvering a single-engine helicopter at a low altitude over a rice field when the tail rotor "dipped into the rice causing it to fail." As a result, he lost control of the helicopter and it impacted the ground hard on the skids causing the main rotor blade to flex down and sever the tail boom. When asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot said, "There is very little margin for error and no time to correct with the ground so close. There is a reason why operating in the shaded area is discouraged." He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies.

This incident is documented in NTSB report DFW08CA198. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2330Y.