# NTSB CEN21LA253: Schweizer TH55A/269A, N41G, Monroe, LA, June 3, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 3, 2021, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Monroe, LA
- Coordinates: 32.510861, -92.037667
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5109&lon=-92.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-BTR FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103220
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA253
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103220/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103220
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA253

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during landing which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

## 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: [Schweizer TH55A/269A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8059503), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer TH55A/269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=8059503), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer TH55A/269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=8059503), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Schweizer TH55A/269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8059503), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that on short final to land, the helicopter lost tail rotor authority and the helicopter began an uncommanded right yaw. He attempted to recover and landed on a grass area which resulted in a hard landing. The fuselage and skids sustained substantial damage. The pilot noted on his report of the accident that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41G), registered now, S/N 291097(67-16990), built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER(HUGHES)AIRCRAFT CORP TH55A/269A
- Registry model: [Schweizer TH55A/269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-th55a-269a) (registry code 8059503) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 291097(67-16990)
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 10324
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: CMG Helicopters
- Registered owner: CMG Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2020, 77 hours before
- Airport: MLU, Monroe Rgnl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,620 total, 12 in this make and model, 2,210 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KMLU
- METAR: SPECI KMLU 031723Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/18 A3002 RMK AO2 T02670178=

## 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 20210603006589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210603006589A), Jun 3, 2021: Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft Corp TH55A/269A, Monroe, LA, Substantial damage. On June 3rd, 2021, at approximately 12:15 CDT (1715 UTC), N41G, a Schweizer (Hughes) TH55A/269A rotorcraft, was air taxiing at the Monroe Regional Airport…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103220. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12458756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 955 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12459340&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-Rel.pdf
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness in helicopters safety alert (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 399 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12683764&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SA_062-Rel-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.

---
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.