Robinson R44 accident near Brazos Blk 532, May 29, 2003
On May 29, 2003 at about 9:00 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N7188K, was destroyed in an accident near Brazos Blk 532. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
undetermined, aircraft not recovered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2003 · about 9:00 am local time
- Place
- Brazos Blk 532 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N7188K · no longer on the register · serial 1073
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the dark night offshore flight over the Gulf of Mexico, the single-engine helicopter impacted the water. A partial debris field was located; however, the helicopter was not recovered and was presumed destroyed. A company dispatcher stated that the pilot departed the mainland with a load of parts for an offshore platform. For the flight to the platform, the pilot estimated an en route time of 1 hour and 30 minutes and estimated a total fuel on board of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The airline transport rated pilot had accumulated approximately 15,000 flight hours. The operator reported that the airframe and engine had accumulated approximately 730 total hours. The helicopter flight manual and helicopter maintenance records were aboard the helicopter and not recovered. The date and type of the most recent continuous airworthiness inspection was not determined. According to the autopsy report, "[the pilot] died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a helicopter accident." The results of the toxicological test were negative for alcohol and all screened drug substances.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 730 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 50 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: HOU Houston TX at 8:20 am
- Destination: A133 Mustang Island GM
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from PSX, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.