Acadiana Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Iberia, Louisiana 70560
Thursday, October 18, 2007 9:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot, who was flying the single-engine helicopter, and his flight instructor departed Runway 16 and climbed to an altitude of 300 feet before initiating a left hand turn. Both pilots stated that during the turn, the nose of the helicopter made an uncommanded yaw to the left and the low-rotor RPM horn sounded and the caution light illuminated. In response, the instructor took control of the helicopter and immediately lowered the collective, "rolled on the throttle," and applied right anti-torque pedal to counteract the left yaw. When the helicopter was approximately 20 to 40-feet above the ground, the instructor executed an autorotation to a sugarcane field and landed perpendicular to the rows. The front skids dug into a row and the helicopter rolled on to its side separating the tailboom and left skid. Examination of the helicopter and engine did not reveal any pre mishap deficiencies or anomalies. Weather reported at the airport included wind from 210 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and a few clouds at 1,500 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The private pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rollover. Also causal was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/18/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City New Iberia
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70560
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 300209N
Event Location Longitude 0915301W
Event Location Airport Acadiana Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ARA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 24
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 947 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID KARA
Elevation of weather observation facility 24
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.74
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22909
NTSB Notification Source BTR FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Oct 8 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N92HS
NTSB Number DFW08LA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2142
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Vortex Helicopters, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City New Iberia
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70560
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ARA
Departure City New Iberia
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 21 2007 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --