Robinson R22 accident near Bandera, Texas, April 27, 2005
On April 27, 2005 at about 1:31 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N422SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bandera, Texas (Kerrville Municipal Airport). It was an other work-use 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's loss of control while hovering after encountering settling with power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2005 · about 1:31 pm local time
- Place
- Bandera, Texas · Kerrville Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N422SH · registry record · serial 3604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 2,216-hour pilot refueled at a private ranch and departed with a passenger to "begin a process of herding some exotic animals across an earthen dam to an open area for capture." One particular trophy exotic that they were trying to capture began to swim in a creek below, and "it was obvious that the animal was struggling to cross." The pilot then began to hover beside the animal to herd it out of the water and towards the bank. At this point, "the aircraft began to settle with power at a height of approximately six feet above the water." The pilot "applied forward cyclic and right pedal, along with a lower collective setting. The skid gear then settled into the water with forward motion, and the main rotors contacted the water." The helicopter sank in approximately six feet of water.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,216 hours in all; 2,013 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 2,123 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 445 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 12, 2005; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sendero Helicopters, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Bandera TX at 1:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 120,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 am from ERV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.