Robinson R44 accident near Batesville, Texas, September 21, 2005
On September 21, 2005 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N748BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Batesville, Texas. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm and his subsequent encounter with settling with power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2005 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Batesville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N748BP · registry record · serial 0676
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 1,469-hour pilot and three passengers had departed a private ranch to conduct a deer survey. Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff the pilot was making a left turn when they spotted a deer to the right of the helicopter. The pilot turned slowly to the right and the rpm horn sounded. The pilot lowered the collective and rolled on throttle while turning the helicopter into the wind. The helicopter encountered a settling with power condition and it continued to sink. The pilot then flew the helicopter to the ground in a controlled crash.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,469 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 1,414 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,571.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2005; 11.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Batesville TX
- Destination: Batesville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 99°F (37°C)
- Observation at 5:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DFW05CA250.