Robinson R44 crash near Port O'Connor, TX, United States

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 6, 2023, about 2157 central standard time, a Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) R-44II helicopter, N494SH, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Port O’Connor, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. A review of ADS-B data showed that earlier on the day of the accident, the helicopter departed from the pilot’s residence in Port O’Connor, Texas, and flew to the Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), Pearland, Texas. The helicopter then returned to the pilot’s residence. The helicopter was equipped with a Garmin Aera 796 unit. The limited data available for the unit showed the helicopter departed from a road next to the pilot’s residence and traveled to the northwest, with the data terminating shortly thereafter. The limited ADS-B data for the accident flight showed a fight path starting from an area just to the north of the pilot’s residence. The helicopter traveled to the east, passing over a lake, and then performed a turn to the north near a road. The helicopter climbed and then descended toward the south. The ADS-B data terminated over an open field next to a home. The direct distance from the departure location to the accident site was about 0.25 miles on a northeast heading. The area to the east of the accident site consisted of swamp with no observed ground lighting sources. The helicopter came to rest on a flat grass field, where a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage. According to the passenger’s daughter, the destination at the time of the accident was LVJ. A neighbor, whose home was about 1,000 ft southwest of where the helicopter took off, observed the helicopter’s red anti-collision (strobe) light operating as it departed from the road. She reported that it was “extremely foggy” when the helicopter took off and she could “barely see” her boat dock from her living room, which was about 75 ft away. Another witness who lives in the neighborhood reported that the estimated visibility from his home looking toward the lake to be about 400 ft or so due to the presence of fog. He estimated that the fog arrived in the neighborhood around 1900. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe non-instrument-rated pilot was employed as a medical doctor. The pilot had attended the RHC Pilot Safety Course at the factory in Torrance, California, in September 2008. The RHC flight instructor reported that the pilot had a “good attitude to aviation safety” on the pilot evaluation form. The pilot’s logbook was not available for review. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONA review of FAA records showed that the pilot purchased the helicopter on June 4, 2008. The helicopter was previously involved in an accident on February 14, 2014; however, the pilot was not on board the helicopter when the previous accident occurred. The helicopter was found to be equipped for instrument flight; however, the helicopter was not certified for instrument flight rules (IFR) by the FAA. The helicopter was not equipped with a radar altimeter, nor was it required to be by the FAA. The FAA-approved RHC R-44II Pilot’s Operating Handbook and Rotorcraft Flight Manual discusses the lighting system and states in part: A red anti-collision light is installed on the tail cone and is controlled by the strobe switch. Position lights are installed on each side of the cabin and in the tail and are controlled by the navigation lights switch. The red anti-collision (strobe) light contains light emitting diodes (commonly referred to as LEDs). The FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA-H-8083-25C discusses night vision illusions and defines flicker vertigo: A light flickering at a rate between 4 and 20 cycles per second can produce unpleasant and dangerous reactions. Such conditions as nausea, vomiting, and vertigo may occur. On rare occasions, convulsions and unconsciousness may also occur. Proper scanning techniques at night can prevent pilots from getting flicker vertigo. The FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-21B discusses flicker vertigo and states in part: Flashing anticollision strobe lights, especially while the aircraft is in the clouds, can also produce this effect. The FAA Office of the Chief General Counsel released a letter on January 11, 2011, that discusses the usage of anticollision lights under 14 CFR Part 91.209 and states in part: The FAA agreed that “the use of a high intensity anticollision light,” such as a strobe light, could create unsafe conditions by “inducing vertigo and causing spatial distortion.” 14 CFR Part 91.209, Aircraft Lights, discusses the use of anticollision lights and states in part: However, the anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the interest of safety to turn the lights off. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe closest official weather reporting location was the Calhoun County Airport (PKV), Port Lavaca, Texas, located about 20 miles northwest of the accident site. At 2155, the Automated Weather Observation System reported wind from 160° at 6 kts, visibility 5 miles with mist, and the ceiling broken at 500 ft above ground level. Airmen’s Meteorological Information Sierra for IFR conditions was issued at 2200 for ceilings below 1,000 ft and visibility below 3 miles with mist and fog present. At the time of the accident, the sun was more than 15° below the horizon, while the moon was about 50° above the horizon at an azimuth of 109°.The phase of the moon was a full moon and was 99.7% illuminated. The FAA contract Automated Flight Service Station provider Leidos had no contact with the pilot on March 6, 2023, for any weather briefing or to file any flight plans. No third-party vendors using the Lockheed Flight Service (LFS) system had contact with the pilot. A separate search of ForeFlight indicated that they also had no account with the pilot and no record of any weather briefings or flight plans being filed. AIRPORT INFORMATIONA review of FAA records showed that the pilot purchased the helicopter on June 4, 2008. The helicopter was previously involved in an accident on February 14, 2014; however, the pilot was not on board the helicopter when the previous accident occurred. The helicopter was found to be equipped for instrument flight; however, the helicopter was not certified for instrument flight rules (IFR) by the FAA. The helicopter was not equipped with a radar altimeter, nor was it required to be by the FAA. The FAA-approved RHC R-44II Pilot’s Operating Handbook and Rotorcraft Flight Manual discusses the lighting system and states in part: A red anti-collision light is installed on the tail cone and is controlled by the strobe switch. Position lights are installed on each side of the cabin and in the tail and are controlled by the navigation lights switch. The red anti-collision (strobe) light contains light emitting diodes (commonly referred to as LEDs). The FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA-H-8083-25C discusses night vision illusions and defines flicker vertigo: A light flickering at a rate between 4 and 20 cycles per second can produce unpleasant and dangerous reactions. Such conditions as nausea, vomiting, and vertigo may occur. On rare occasions, convulsions and unconsciousness may also occur. Proper scanning techniques at night can prevent pilots from getting flicker vertigo. The FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-21B discusses flicker vertigo and states in part: Flashing anticollision strobe lights, especially while the aircraft is in the clouds, can also produce this effect. The FAA Office of the Chief General Counsel released a letter on January 11, 2011, that discusses the usage of anticollision lights under 14 CFR Part 91.209 and states in part: The FAA agreed that “the use of a high intensity anticollision light,” such as a strobe light, could create unsafe conditions by “inducing v