Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper decision to carry an unauthorized passenger and the passenger’s loss of control of the helicopter during take-off.
NTSB analysis
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the helicopter’s owner, who held a student pilot certificate, flew with a passenger from a local airport to a lake house. Upon departure from the lake house, the passenger was at the controls of the helicopter. As the helicopter started to lift off from the ground, it made a sharp turn to the right. The student pilot added that he was unable to take the controls from the passenger and regain control of the helicopter. The helicopter’s tailrotor struck the ground and the helicopter subsequently rolled left and into the lake, where it sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, main and tailrotor blades.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA126 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 22, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hemphill, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Private Field
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II
- N-number
- N841SA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.