# Accident 20210610006619A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Reserve, LA, June 10, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 10, 2021, 15:15 local time
- Place: Reserve, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.0875° N, 90.5828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0875&lon=-90.5828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N202SM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N202SM-2022-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,160 total, 2,450 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA284) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210610006619A

## Narrative

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

ON 6/10/2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 HOURS I WAS LOCATED AT THE PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA REGIONAL AIRPORT REFUELING N202SM. AFTER REFUELING THE HELICOPTER, I ENTERED THE PILOT'S SEAT AND STARTED THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER ALL GAUGES REACHED THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES, I CONDUCTED A MAGNETO CHECK, AND THEN INCREASED THE THROTTLE UNTIL THE GOVERNOR TOOK OVER. I BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER, AND AFTER MAKING A RADIO CALL, I ENTERED THE TAXIWAY AND EVENTUALLY RUNWAY 35 FOR DEPARTURE TO CONDUCT TRAFFIC PATTERN EXERCISES. UPON TURNING ONTO RUNWAY 35, I INCREASED POWER AND APPLIED FORWARD CYCLIC. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 5-10 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY AND AS MY SPEED INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 KNOTS THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE LOST POWER AFTER MAKING A SPUTTERING SOUND. THE SOUND WAS SIMILAR TO WHEN THE THROTTLE MIXTURE IS LEANED TO THE POINT OF FUEL STARVATION AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SPUTTER. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED BRIEFLY TO THE LEFT, AND THE SKIDS MADE CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID INTO THE GRASSY AREA.

UPON COMING TO A STOP, I REALIZED THAT THE SKIDS WERE DAMAGED, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AS WELL. I SUSTAINED ZERO INJURIES DURING THE EVENT.

## 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 CEN21LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA284), Jun 10, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N202SM), Reserve, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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