# NTSB FTW99LA179: Robinson R22 Beta, N8360T, Theriot, LA, July 3, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1999, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Theriot, LA - Coordinates: 29.389263, -90.789352 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3893&lon=-90.7894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA179 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which led to a contaminated fuel supply and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Roll over, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine of the helicopter lost power during a repositioning flight at 500 feet above ground level. The pilot initiated a straight-in autorotation to a swampy area covered with grass 4 to 5 feet tall. The helicopter settled into the grass, rolled over on its right side and came to rest heading 180 degrees from the direction of the landing. The aircraft was recovered to the helicopter manufacturer's facility for evaluation and repairs. On August 17, 1999, the engine of the helicopter was successfully run for 20 minutes under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The inspector reported that the engine performed within the established parameters. He added that water was drained from the main fuel tank, the gascolator, and the carburetor bowl. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 1999, at approximately 1200 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N8360T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Theriot, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local repositioning flight originated from a farm near Theriot, Louisiana, approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that the flight was scheduled to conduct an aerial survey of alligator activity in several marshes and swamps within the local area. During the third flight of the day, at 500 feet agl, the engine of the helicopter lost power without warning. The pilot initiated a straight-in autorotation to an open area covered with 4 to 5 foot tall grass. The pilot further stated that he flared the helicopter just above the top of the tall grass, until the helicopter sank into the grass with some forward airspeed. The helicopter rolled over on its right side and came to rest heading 180 degrees from the direction of the landing. Another helicopter rescued the pilot and the passenger from the swampy area about 5 hours after the accident The 8,000-hour pilot reported that the tailboom separated from the airframe during the accident sequence and the powertrain system, including the main rotor blades, sustained structural damage. The helicopter was manufactured in 1997, and had accumulated a total of 557 flight hours. The aircraft was recovered to the helicopter manufacturer's facility in Torrance, California, for damage evaluation and repairs. On August 17, 1999, the engine of the helicopter was successfully run in a dynamometer under the supervision of an FAA inspector from the Long Beach FSDO. The inspector reported that the engine performed well within the established parameters for over 20 minutes. The inspector added that water was found in the main fuel tank, the gascolator bowl, and carburetor bowl. See enclosed manufacturer's report for details of the engine run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8360T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8360T-2015-03-23), registration cancelled 2015-03-23, S/N 2758, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2758 - Airframe hours: 557 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J. Neider - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 5, 1999, 67 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 19990703008249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990703008249A), Jul 3, 1999: Robsin R22BETA, Theriot, LA, Substantial damage. 1997 Robinson R-22 helicopter experienced engine failure, executed an auto-rotation, landed hard, and flipped over in a swamp, other circumstances are unknown.… ## Other investigations on N8360T (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR11LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA161), Mar 11, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta II (N8360T), North Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the certified flight instructor's decision to continue the flight after the helicopter exhibited inadequate… 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.