Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Pearland, Texas, October 27, 2024
On October 27, 2024 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2005 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N7521Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pearland, Texas (Pearland Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during lift off.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2024 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pearland, Texas · Pearland Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, built 2005 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N7521Z · registry record · serial 3810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he increased engine power to lift off and initiated a pedal turn toward the adjacent taxiway. He recalled that the helicopter made a “violent lurch” to the right, so he lowered the collective abruptly but that did not seem to make any difference. He did not remember anything further. Airport surveillance video footage captured the helicopter lift off and translate a short distance to the right. The right skid appeared to contact the ground again, and the helicopter immediately began rotating to the right. This was accompanied by dramatic pitch oscillations. The aft portion of the tailboom impacted the paved ramp surface, and the tailboom and empennage separated. Rotation of the helicopter continued until it collided with a nearby parked airplane. The helicopter sustained damage to both main rotor blades, the tailboom, tail rotor assembly, and the empennage. An examination helicopter did not reveal any preimpact anomalies consistent with an inability to maintain control of the helicopter. A review of the surveillance video indicated that the helicopter began a dynamic rollover when the right skid dragged on the ground immediately after lifting off. Based on the response of the helicopter, the pilot likely increased collective pitch to increase height but did not provide sufficient left anti-torque pedal input to counter the increased torque. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter before it impacted the ground.
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
- Dynamic rollover during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 492 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 21, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,084 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 2024; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 6,084 hours total
- Operator: Veracity Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LVJ Pearland TX at 1:30 pm
- Destination: LVJ Pearland TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from KLVJ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLVJ 271353Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM CLR 22/21 A3024
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2025. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Airport Ramp Surveillance VIDEO_1 | video | View Download |
| 5 | Airport Ramp Surveillance VIDEO_2 | MOV file | Download |
| 6 | Helicopter Examination Summary | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Helicopter Maintenance Records | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7521Z 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.