Robinson R22 Beta accident near Freer, Texas, September 26, 2002
On September 26, 2002 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N888MH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freer, Texas. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines while manuevering. A factor was the sunglare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2002 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Freer, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N888MH · registry record · serial 3121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was herding cattle flying from the east "right into the sun, in sideward flight" when the helicopter struck a 25-foot high power line. The helicopter began shaking violently and yawed hard to the left, when the pilot rolled off throttle and lowered the collective to autorotate. The helicopter then made a three-quarter turn to the right before hitting flat on its skids and rolling over on its left side.
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: 2,086 hours in all; 2,044 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 2,001 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,606.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 2002; 17.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-OV-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Freer TX at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 1:46 pm from LRD, 46 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 FTW02LA266.