# NTSB GAA20CA052: Robinson R66, N661CG, Alexandria, LA, October 29, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 28, 2019, 19:45 local (Oct 29, 2019, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Alexandria, LA
- Coordinates: 31.238332, -92.437774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2383&lon=-92.4378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100514
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100514/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100514
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA052

## Probable cause

The pilot's fixation on the instrument panel, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had departed in the helicopter from a local field at night under visual flight rules conditions. He reported that the weather was good, that he climbed the helicopter to 1,400 ft mean sea level for the 4-mile flight, and that he began the descent about 1 mile from the destination. He reported that he had "noticed and was consumed w/Engine & Rotor RPM, in the Yellow." During the approach, the helicopter stopped moving forward and began moving backward. The helicopter landed hard in a level attitude on the grass. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that he had departed from a local football field at night under VFR conditions. The pilot reported that the weather was good. He reported that the helicopter climbed to 1,400ft MSL for the 4-mile flight and he began the descent about 1 mile from the destination. He reported that he had, "noticed and was consumed w/ Engine & Rotor RPM, in the Yellow." During approach, the helicopter stopped moving forward, and began moving backward. The helicopter landed hard in a level attitude, on the grass at the pilot's destination. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems, and the fuselage. According to the nearest METAR located 7 miles northwest of the accident site, it was reported that about the time of the accident, it was overcast at 1,400ft AGL and the visibility was 10SM. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N661CG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N661CG), registered now, S/N 0057, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R66 (No Series)
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-series) (registry code 54225, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0057
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 944
- Engines: Rolls Royce RR300/A1 turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Alexandria, LA
- Destination: Alexandria, LA
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 21, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,818 total, 1,465 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KAEX, 4 nm away

## 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 20191028020489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191028020489A), Oct 28, 2019: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Alexandria, LA, Substantial damage. On October 28, 2019, N661CG, a Robinson R-66 serial number 0057, departed a football stadium at Alexandria senior high (ash) in Alexandria, LA. The intended…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100514. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480221&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 2, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.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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