# NTSB CEN21LA385: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N744RB, New Roads, LA, August 20, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2021, 03:40 local (08:40 UTC)
- Place: New Roads, LA · Presumed in the MS River
- Coordinates: 30.72554, -91.353989 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7255&lon=-91.3540&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103751
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA385
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103751/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103751
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA385

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to a lack of available evidence.

## Findings

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

- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting a night cross country flight in his single-engine helicopter to evaluate the progress of some construction projects. As he approached the landing area, he noticed some loose construction debris, so he flew past the site and turned around to approach from the opposite direction. Shortly thereafter, the engine began losing power. Unable to maintain level flight he conducted an emergency landing to a river. By the time he was rescued, about 11 hours after the accident, the helicopter had sunk and was not located despite an extensive search by local law enforcement. Given that the wreckage was not recovered, an examination of the engine to determine a reason for the loss of power could not be performed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N744RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N744RB-2022-12-05), registration cancelled 2022-12-05, S/N 14390 (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)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 14390
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KLFT, Lafayette, LA
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; medical: basicmed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KHZR, 6 nm away
- METAR: KHZR 200915Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/24 A2997 RMK AO2

## 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 20210820022919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210820022919A), Aug 20, 2021: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, New Roads, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated loss of power, unable to maintain altitude. Landed in a body of water, presumably the Mississippi river. Helicopter has not been located.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103751. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12728024&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record-of-Conversation_PIC-Rel.pdf
- FAA record of conversation with PIC (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12728096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight track (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 708 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12728179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=OpsVue%20Flight%20Track%20Overlay-Rel.pdf
- Wreckage disposition (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 780 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12727921&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Disposition_Redacted-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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