Robinson R66 N49XB

Summary

On 9 March 2021 at about 21:39 local time, a Robinson R66 registered N49XB, operated by Trinity Paul Air LLC, was involved in an accident near Duson, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 March 2021 at 21:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Duson, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Private (N/A)

Coordinates

30.1328, -92.1375

Aircraft

Robinson R66

Registration

N49XB

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Trinity Paul Air LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gonzales → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA154

Nobody was injured.

The uncertified pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter when encountering a wind gust while hovering to land.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The uncertificated pilot reported that he was hovering to land on a concrete driveway near his hangar when he encountered a wind gust. The pilot subsequently lost control of the helicopter and it nosed over and struck the driveway. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system and the tail rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported he’d flown the helicopter from a maintenance facility to his hangar without the supervision of a flight instructor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.