Robinson R22-B2 accident near Freer, Texas, February 17, 1999
On February 17, 1999 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22-B2 (helicopter), registered N971SL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freer, Texas. It was a business 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger's inadvertent interference with the cyclic control which consequently restricted the control's movement.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 1999 · about 3:00 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-B2 · all R22-B2s on the register
- Registration
- N971SL · no longer on the register · serial 2750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The passenger inadvertently blocked the movement of the cyclic control with his netting gun. The pilot and passenger were hired by a private ranch owner to net deer for removal from his property. During the flight, the passenger missed a deer with one net. The pilot then entered a hover 20 to 25 feet above the deer. After the passenger reloaded the gun, the pilot started to descend when the helicopter rolled to the left. The pilot noticed that the butt of the gun was hooked around the cyclic t-bar. Before the pilot could regain control, the helicopter impacted the ground.
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: 2,494 hours in all; 681 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 82 in the last 30 days; 2,425 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AID (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Private Ranch TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.