# NTSB CEN21LA154: Robinson Helicopter R66, N49XB, Duson, LA, March 9, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 9, 2021, 15:39 local (21:39 UTC)
- Place: Duson, LA
- Coordinates: 30.1328, -92.1375 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1328&lon=-92.1375&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102745
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102745/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102745
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA154

## Probable cause

The uncertified pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter when encountering a wind gust while hovering to land.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The uncertificated pilot reported that he was hovering to land on a concrete driveway near his hangar when he encountered a wind gust. The pilot subsequently lost control of the helicopter and it nosed over and struck the driveway. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system and the tail rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported he’d flown the helicopter from a maintenance facility to his hangar without the supervision of a flight instructor.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49XB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49XB-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N 0671, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (registry code 54232, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0671
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 954
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300/A1 300 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Trinity Paul Air LLC
- Registered owner: Trinity Paul Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 2021, 0 hours before
- Departed: KREG, Gonzales, LA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: N/A, Private

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 97 total, 97 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: KLFT, 9 nm away
- METAR: KLFT 092153Z 18008G18KT 10SM SCT060 23/09 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP264 T02280094

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20210309004579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210309004579A), Mar 9, 2021: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Duson, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot had flown from Louisiana regional airport (kreg) to his house in Duson, LA. He was attempting to land at helipad behind his house and had almost made…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102745. 6.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12120419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%2B_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence with FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12493004&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20with%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Photo of helicopter at accident site (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 887 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12120429&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.pdf

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.

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