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CEN24LA135

2024-03-13 · Knox City, Texas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport F75

Current FAA registration · N3040P

Make / Model
ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
Year of manufacture
2007 · 17 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O-540-F1B5 (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20180619
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A33094

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a rollover and an impact with terrain.

Factual narrative

During takeoff in the helicopter, the pilot reduced collective control input. Once the skids began to lift off the ground, the pilot felt the helicopter spin to the left. The pilot applied corrective right pedal input and pulled up on the collective. Once the skids were off the ground, the helicopter spun harder to the left, and the pilot could not overcome the spin. The helicopter rolled onto its side, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom, fuselage, and main rotors. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_CEN24LA135.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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