# NTSB CEN21LA378: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N222VB, Gonzales, LA, August 21, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2021, 23:00 local (Aug 21, 2021, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Gonzales, LA
- Coordinates: 30.2461, -90.9219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2461&lon=-90.9219&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- 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: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103735
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA378
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103735/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103735
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA378

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent collision with a tree while landing at night which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was approaching to land at night when the helicopter tail rotor struck a tree. He felt the helicopter “shake a little” and noticed it was “falling.” The pilot attempted to cushion the landing by increasing collective and the helicopter came to rest on both skids upright. The helicopter fuselage and tail rotor sustained damaged during the hard landing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N222VB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N222VB), registered now, S/N 10009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 10009
- Year built: 2002
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Down River Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Down River Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: N/A, Gonzales, LA
- Destination: N/A, Gonzales, LA
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KREG, 4 nm away
- METAR: METAR KREG 210355Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM CLR 25/24 A2995

## 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 20210820014649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210820014649A), Aug 20, 2021: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Gonzales, LA, Substantial damage. Helicopter was approaching landing area on private property at night, pilot was attempting to maneuver away from a tree, when he initiated a pedal turn causing…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103735. 566 KB in all.

- Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13005139&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20William%20Sutherland-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 428 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13005327&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA378-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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