Robinson Helicopter Company R44 accident near Chireno, Texas, June 7, 2016
On June 7, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2008 Robinson Helicopter Company R44, registered N41407, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Chireno, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the helicopter rolling over during landing, and substantial damage to the tail boom.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chireno, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2008
- Registration
- N41407 · no longer on the register · serial 12424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student helicopter pilot reported that during a local flight he diverted his attention to the navigational equipment and removed his hand from the cyclic. He reported that he lost control of the helicopter and believed the helicopter became inverted. He further reported that he presumed that he had damaged the rotor system and elected to make a precautionary landing by entering an autorotation. During the landing, the left helicopter skid touched down on uneven terrain and the helicopter rolled over, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The manufacturer provided a test flight video that showed what will occur when the Helicopter's cyclic is released in forward flight. Per the video, in forward flight, should the pilot release the cyclic, the helicopter will pitch up and roll left.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Roll over during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Decision related to condition
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Decision related to condition
Dual student
- Certificate: private, student
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 265 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 460.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE145 (piston); 500 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: San Augustine TX at 6:45 pm
- Destination: OCH Nacogdoches TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KOCH, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 15, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Party Submission | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.