Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Knox City, Texas, March 13, 2024
On March 13, 2024 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2007 Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N3040P, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Knox City, Texas (Harrison Field). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a rollover and an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2024 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Knox City, Texas · Harrison Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44, built 2007 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N3040P · registry record · serial 1802
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 125 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 2023
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 493 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RPH Graham TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KF05, 54 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KF05 131735Z AUTO 24018KT 10SM CLR 26/05 A2972 RMK A02 T02550046
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 11, 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN24LA135 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs CEN24LA135 | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Summary of Telephone Call with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3040P on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Robinson R44 1,948 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 299 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Harrison Field Of Knox City · nearest airport
- Graham Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,985 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA135.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.