20230326003849A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Erwinville, LA · March 26, 2023

Date: March 26, 2023 · 02:39 local
Place: Erwinville, LA
Airport: Baton Rouge Metropolitan, Ryan
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N441PD
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN23FA142
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,700 total1,500 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N441PDRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 12494 · Built 2009 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On 3/26/2023, a Robinson R44 helicopter, flying under CFR part 91 operations departed btr at approximately 0236 hours in pursuit of a drunk driver. The aircraft was being operated by a pilot in command and another certificated pilot on board manning the copilot station. After approx. 13 minutes of flight time, the aircraft lost control and crashed approx. 10 miles west of btr at around 0239 local time. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed as a result of the accident.

As the FAA filed it

ON 3/26/2023, A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER, FLYING UNDER CFR PART 91 OPERATIONS DEPARTED BTR AT APPROXIMATELY 0236 HOURS IN PURSUIT OF A DRUNK DRIVER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY A PILOT IN COMMAND AND ANOTHER CERTIFICATED PILOT ON BOARD MANNING THE COPILOT STATION. AFTER APPROX. 13 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME, THE AIRCRAFT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED APPROX. 10 MILES WEST OF BTR AT AROUND 0239 LOCAL TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND BOTH PILOTS WERE KILLED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN23FA142Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPort Allen, LAThe pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and the loss of aircraft control.Mar 26, 2023 · Destroyed