Westland Wasp accident near Denison, Texas, May 30, 2005
On May 30, 2005 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Westland Wasp (helicopter), registered N108RA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denison, Texas. It was a personal 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 partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2005 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Denison, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Westland Wasp
- Registration
- N108RA · no longer on the register · serial 0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb-out on a southwesterly direction, while at an estimated altitude of 90 feet above the ground, and an estimated airspeed of 25 knots, the helicopter experienced an un-commanded reduction of engine power to flight idle. The 358-hour student pilot turned the helicopter 180 degrees, put the collective down, and applied right anti-torque pedal. The helicopter landed hard on a street, impacting on all four landing gear before bouncing back into the air. During the second ground impact, the left rear landing gear collapsed and the main rotor blades and tail rotor made contact with the ground. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 040 degrees at 8 knots. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 358 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce Nimbus 103 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Denison TX
- Destination: Denison TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 am
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.