Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 29, 2002 · Robinson R44 · N952LC

Del Rio, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 29, 2002
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Del Rio, TX
Aircraft
Robinson R44
Tail Number
N952LC
Operator
Holt Helicopters
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW02LA268

The 1,243-hour commercial pilot was attempting to land the helicopter on a trailer following completion of a deer survey on a 10,000 acres ranch. The pilot reported that the wind was "strong, estimated at 20 to 25 knots." During his second attempt to land on the trailer, the helicopter "lurched" forward, rolled to the right, then fell off the trailer, landing on its left side. The nearest weather reporting station, located about 5 miles southwest of the accident site was reporting the winds from 130 degrees at 10 knots about 7 minutes after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. A contributing factor was the reported gusting wind conditions.

Full Narrative

On September 29, 2002, approximately 1800 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N952LC, was substantially damaged when it rolled over while landing on a trailer near Del Rio, Texas. The helicopter was registered to the Leyendecker Construction Company of Laredo, Texas, and operated by Holt Helicopters of Uvalde, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The local deer survey flight originated from Rancho El Conejos, a private ranch located north of Del Rio, at about 1630. According to the 1,243-hour pilot, he had just completed a deer survey of the 10,000 acre ranch and came back to land the helicopter on a trailer. The pilot added that the wind were "strong, estimated at 20 to 25 knots variable and gusting." and he aborted his first attempt to land on the trailer. He attempted a second approach to land and came within a "few inches" of touching down on the trailer when the helicopter encountered a gust of wind. The pilot reported that the helicopter "lurched" forward, rolled to the right, then fell off the trailer, landing on its left side. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the tailboom was bent-up approximately 45 degrees, large portions of the main rotor blades were sheared off, the main rotor mast was bent inward toward the cabin, and the front wind screen is broken out. Evidence of main rotor blade strikes were found on the goose neck of the trailer and the forward portion of the trailer. The landing gear cross tubes and the skid tubes were undamaged. In the recommendation block of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) completed by the pilot, the pilot stated, "Don't land on trailer in gusty/windy conditions." The Del Rio International Airport (DRT) located about 5 miles southwest (210 degrees) of the accident site was the nearest weather reporting station. At 1753 DRT was reporting the winds from 130 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 29 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 17 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure of 29.90 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated at 2,713 feet at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 CDT
Nearest Airport5nm SSW
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson R44
Tail NumberN952LC
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHolt Helicopters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-F1B5 · Reciprocating · 205
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time22:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data