# Accident 19990703008249A: Robsin R22BETA, Theriot, LA, July 3, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 3, 1999, 12:00 local time - Place: Theriot, LA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 29.3893° N, 90.7894° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3893&lon=-90.7894&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8360T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8360T-2015-03-23) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (registry code 42314, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA - Reported engine: LYC O360J2A - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA179) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990703008249A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 1997 ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE, EXECUTED AN AUTO-ROTATION, LANDED HARD, AND FLIPPED OVER IN A SWAMP, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (FROM .4) ON JULY 3, 1999, AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA HELICOPTER, N8360T, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR THERIOT, LOUISIANA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT FOR WHICH A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL REPOSITIONING FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A FARM NEAR THERIOT, LOUISIANA, APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED TO CONDUCT AN AERIAL SURVEY OF ALLIGATOR ACTIVITY IN SEVERAL MARSHES AND SWAMPS WITHIN THE LOCAL AREA. DURING THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY, AT 500 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE OF THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE PILOT INITIATED A STRAIGHT-IN AUTOROTATION TO AN OPEN AREA COVERED WITH 4 TO 5 FOOT TALL GRASS. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE FLARED THE HELICOPTER JUST AB ABOVE THE TOP OF THE TALL GRASS, UNTIL THE HELICOPTER SANK INTO THE GRASS WITH SOME FORWARD AIRSPEED. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST HEADING 180 DEGREES FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE LANDING. ANOTHER HELICOPTER RESCUED THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER FROM THE SWAMPY AREA ABOUT 5 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE 8,000-HOUR PILOT REPORTED THAT THE TAILBOOM SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE AND THE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE HELICOPTER WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1997, AND HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 557 FLIGHT HOURS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED TO THE HELICOPTER MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, FOR DAMAGE EVALUATION AND REPAIRS. ON AUGUST 17, 1999, THE ENGINE OF THE HELICOPTER WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN IN A DYNAMOMETER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN FAA INSPECTOR FROM THE LONG BEACH FSDO. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE PERFORMED WELL WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS FOR OVER 20 MINUTES. THE INSPECTOR ADDED THAT WATER WAS FOUND IN THE MAIN FUEL TANK, THE GASCOLATOR BOWL, AND CARBURETOR BOWL. SEE ENCLOSED MANUFACTURER'S REPORT FOR DETAILS OF THE ENGINE RUN. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW99LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA179), Jul 3, 1999: Robinson R22 Beta (N8360T), Theriot, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which led to a contaminated fuel supply and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing. ## Other reports on N8360T (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20110311003459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110311003459A), Mar 11, 2011: Robinson He R22 BETA (N8360T), North Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. While conducting hovering practice during a flight lesson, N8360T a Robinson R22 helicopter, contacted the ground which resulted in a dynamic roll over… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.