Robinson Helicopter Company R44 accident near Mount Blanco, Texas, April 17, 2026
On April 17, 2026 at about 3:40 pm local time, a 2012 Robinson Helicopter Company R44, registered N445JS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Mount Blanco, Texas. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain proper main rotor rpm during a low-level turn, which resulted in the main rotor rpm drooping, a loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery, and a subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2026 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Blanco, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2012
- Registration
- N445JS · registry record · serial 13278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the low-level flight was to perform the aerial hunting of wild pigs and coyotes in a remote area that the pilot had not flown in before. The doors were removed from the helicopter, and the two paying passengers onboard were equipped with firearms. During the flight at 75 ft agl and 50 kts, the pilot observed two coyotes and decided to maneuver the helicopter into the wind so the passengers could engage the coyotes with their firearms. The pilot turned the helicopter to the left, into the wind, and during the turn he heard the engine rpm decrease. After checking the cockpit gauges, he noticed that the engine rpm and the main rotor rpm were both decreasing. The pilot increased the throttle, lowered the collective; however, the engine rpm and the main rotor rpm were still decreasing. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter for a forced landing. The helicopter impacted terrain and came to rest on its left side in a remote canyon. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, the tail cone, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The calculated density altitude for the closest metrological reporting station, near the time of the accident, was about 5,145 ft. The Robinson Helicopter Company has published Safety Notice SN-34 Aerial Survey and Photo Flights which provides pilot guidance that can also be applicable to aerial hunting flights and states that to “only fly the aircraft at speeds, altitudes, and wind angles that are safe and allow good escape routes.”
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 (low-alt flying) defining event
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,022.9 hours in all; 414.4 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 30.5 in the last 30 days; 898.7 as pilot in command; 31.2 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 5, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,328.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 5, 2026; 66.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 3,356 hours total
- Operator: Concho Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: None Crosbyton TX at 3:15 pm
- Destination: None Crosbyton TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from KLBB, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLBB 171453Z 22014KT 10SM SCT150 BKN250 22/16 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP053 T02220156 51006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 2 – Overall view of the accident site
Photograph 3 – View of the main rotor system, the fuselage, and the tail rotor system at the accident site
Photograph 4 – View of the main rotor system at the accident siteThe 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
7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 2026. 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 | Concho Aviation - Various Records of Conversation | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Site Wreckage Video (Courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration - .Mov File) | MOV file | Download |
| 5 | Accident Flight ADS-B Data (Google Earth Pro - .Kmz File) | map file | Download |
| 6 | Accident Flight ADS-B Data (Microsoft Excel - .Xlsx File) | spreadsheet | Download |
| 7 | Robinson Helicopter Company - Safety Notice SN-34 Aerial Survey and Photo Flights | PDF, 1 page · our copy | 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.