Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Beaumont, Texas, January 9, 2014
On January 9, 2014 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1989 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N994HV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Beaumont, Texas (Beaumont Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot not controlling the helicopter following a wind gust and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action resulting in the helicopter rolling over on its side during a landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 2014 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Beaumont, Texas · Beaumont Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA BETA, built 1989 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N994HV · no longer on the register · serial 0994
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
For about 30 minutes, the flight instructor and his student pilot were practicing hovering and landings on a level concrete area. During the accident touchdown, a wind gust or wind shift occurred and the helicopter shifted sideways. The pilots felt the skids "catch" and the left side of the helicopter began to lift. The flight instructor called for and took control of the helicopter. The student pilot had not released his controls. The helicopter then rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial tailboom damage. The pilot's accident report indicated that there were no helicopter mechanical malfunctions.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Dynamic rollover during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,223.8 hours in all; 570.2 in this make and model; 91.3 in the last 90 days; 30.8 in the last 30 days; 1,025.4 as pilot in command; 223.6 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 5, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 7 hours in all; 7 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,342 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,369 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 7,291 hours total
- Operator: Heritage Helicopter Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BMT Beaumont TX at 8:45 pm
- Destination: BMT Beaumont TX
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KBPT, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N994HV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.