Robinson R-22 accident near Refugio, Texas, August 29, 2008
On August 29, 2008 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N2312, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Refugio, Texas (Not Applicable airport). It was an aerial observation 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 pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2008 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Refugio, Texas · Not Applicable · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2312 · registry record · serial 1973
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and non-rated passenger were conducting a wildlife survey of a ranch. According to the pilot he was maneuvering to land on a ranch road at about 50-60 feet and turned into the wind. During the turn he got too slow and the low rotor horn sounded and the low rotor light illuminated. He was unable to recover the descent or go around, resulting in a hard landing. During the landing a main rotor contacted the tail boom. An examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the fuselage.
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 landing defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 622 hours in all; 585 in this make and model; 129 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming o-320-b2c (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coastal Bend Helicopter Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Refugio TX
- Destination: Refugio TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2312 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.