Robinson R44 accident near Bartlett, Texas, April 28, 2008
On April 28, 2008 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N477SH, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bartlett, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from terrain (embankment) during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2008 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bartlett, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N477SH · no longer on the register · serial 10904
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private (airplane) rated pilot, who did not hold a rotorcraft rating, attempted to depart in a single-engine helicopter with one passenger on-board. The pilot reported that as he started his takeoff, "the helicopter came off the ground approximately 2 feet, but I felt it was in a malfunction mode, rotated 30 degrees to the left, and set it back down on both skids. While in the malfunction mode, I felt a jar to my left pedal and/or side." The pilot also stated that he thought the main rotor blade had hit the tail cone and disintegrated. A post-crash fire erupted. The passenger initially was slow in exiting the aircraft, and was pulled from the fire by the pilot once he had exited the aircraft. An inspection of the helicopter and the accident site indicated that during the takeoff sequence the helicopter's tail skid/rotor hit an embankment, located just behind the helicopter's landing area. The on-scene examination also revealed that helicopter's main rotor blades displayed "coning" effect; the tail rotor drive shaft appeared to be intact prior to the fire, and the tail rotor blades displayed damage that was consistent with ground strikes. Records on the helicopter revealed that the pilot/owner had purchased the helicopter 7 days prior to the accident date. Additionally, the helicopter had been disassembled for shipment, while being offered for sale. The condition of the helicopter at the time of sale was listed as, "not airworthy", and was sold, "as is"; however, the condition at the time of the flight was not known.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Training with equipment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › (general) › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,155.8 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Bartlett TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: AR
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 am from KGTU
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.
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.