Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Henderson, Texas, June 6, 2022
On June 6, 2022 at about 2:50 pm local time, a 1999 Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N94WC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Henderson, Texas (Henderson County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power in a hover due to a stuck exhaust valve.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2022 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Texas · Henderson County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44, built 1999 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N94WC · no longer on the register · serial 0691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot was practicing hover takeoffs and landings in a crosswind. The passenger reported that, while hovering before a landing, the helicopter shuddered, and the left skid contacted the ground. The helicopter rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom. Examination of the helicopter’s flight control systems and main and tail rotor drive systems did not show any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the No. 2 cylinder revealed that the exhaust push rod was bent and the exhaust valve was stuck. Borescope inspection of the No. 2 cylinder showed that the exhaust valve had contacted the piston and the intake valve appeared to be recessed in the No. 2 valve seat. The loss of engine power was most likely due to the stuck exhaust valve on the No. 2 cylinder.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover)
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 9:59 am from KRFI, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRFI 061459Z AUTO 19007G16KT 150V220 10SM OVC202 28/20 A2979 RMK A02
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 25, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorandum for the Record Summary of NTSB Iic and Passenger Conversation CEN22LA343 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe and Engine Examination Summary CEN22LA234 | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Effects of Stuck Valves | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Lycoming Service Bulletin 388C | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Certificate of Party Representative Lycoming CEN22L234 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Certificate of Party Representative Robinson CEN22LA234 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Investigation Photographs CEN22LA234 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.