# Accident 20210130001879A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Knoxville, TN, January 30, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 30, 2021, 09:30 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8017° N, 84.1459° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8017&lon=-84.1459&mi=10
- Aircraft: N660TN, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N660TN-2025-04-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R66 (registry code 7640130, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1 (registry code 54232, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300/A1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,839 total, 186 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA121) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210130001879A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 1/30/2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 0930L, N660TN WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN KNOXVILLE, TN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED AT AN APPROXIMANTE HEADING OF 120 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF TO A LOW HOVER AND TURNED TO THE LEFT TO AN APPROXIMATE HEADING OF 050 DEGREES. DURING THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALLOWED TO DRIFT REARWARD WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE CAUSING THE LEFT SKID TO PENETRATE INTO THE SOIL TO APPROXIMATELY 22 INCHES IN DEPTH. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM TO IMPACT THE GROUND.

EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES. CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE MAINTAINED AND NO INDICATIONS OF A TAIL ROTOR FAILURE WERE PRESENT. NOTHING REMARKABLE TO NOTE WITH THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM AND BLADES AS WELL AS THE TAIL ROTORS AND DRIVE SYSTEMS.

ADDITIONALLY, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE TLOF/FATO BEING UTILIZED IS SLOPING IN NATURE AND NOT THE IDEAL SIZE BASED ON THE HELICOPTER BEING OPERATED.

## 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 ERA21LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA121), Jan 30, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R66 (N660TN), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter, which resulted in rear portion of the right skid contacting the ground and a subsequent dynamic rollover.

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.

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