Robinson R22 accident near Seagoville, Texas, November 3, 2001
On November 3, 2001 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N127RB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seagoville, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance with wires while maneuvering along a river.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2001 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Seagoville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N127RB · registry record · serial 2085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-rated student receiving instruction stated that the objective of the flight lesson was to work on confined area and pinnacle landings. The student stated that he had practiced a number of confined area landings in the local area and along a river. The student added that following his last landing/takeoff, the flight instructor took over flying to give him a break. The flight instructor flew the helicopter north of the last few landing areas to review their lesson. The flight instructor turned the helicopter south and flew along the river instructing the student and commenting on the various landing areas. The student stated that he was looking over his right shoulder at one of the previous landing areas, and looked forward to see wires in front of the helicopter. The student exclaimed, "wires!" and saw the instructor pull up on the collective and left on the cyclic. The helicopter pitched up and rolled to the left; subsequently impacting trees and terrain along the left side of the river. Examination of the accident site revealed that there was a set of three unmarked wires; one which remained hanging across the river, and two others that were laying on the west bank of the river. The helicopter came to rest on its left side among trees approximately 100 yards from the wires. The wire that remained hanging across the river was approximately 40 feet above the river, and was below the tops of the trees along the banks. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the mast cowling displayed two marks and tears perpendicular to the mast.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,171 hours in all; 3,800 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 7,000 as pilot in command; 4,375 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 22, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,708.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 5, 2001; 84.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Helicopters INC
The flight
- Departed from: T57 Garland TX at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from RBD, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.