| Crash location | 28.365556°N, 97.111944°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Refugio, TX
28.305284°N, 97.275270°W 10.8 miles away |
| Tail number | N2312 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 29 Aug 2008 |
| Aircraft type | Swift(AF) Robinson R-22(NTSB) |
| Additional details: | Yellow |
The pilot and non-rated passenger were conducting a wildlife survey of a ranch. The pilot transported his helicopter to the ranch on a trailer and launched from the trailer. According to the pilot he was maneuvering to land on a ranch road at about 50-60 feet and turned into the wind. During the turn he got too slow and the low rotor horn sounded and the low rotor light illuminated. He was unable to recover the descent or go around, resulting in a hard landing. During the landing a main rotor contacted the tail boom. An examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the fuselage.
The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to land.