Robinson R22 accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, April 10, 2011
On April 10, 2011 at about 3:30 am local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N372LE, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Lake Charles, Louisiana (Lake Charles Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control of the helicopter while in a hover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2011 · about 3:30 am local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Lake Charles, Louisiana · Lake Charles Regional Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N372LE · not in the FAA's current or past register files · serial 3272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was in a stabilized hover into the wind on the approach end of the runway for about 15 to 20 seconds. The pilot was preparing to move the cyclic forward to start the helicopter into forward flight when the nose began a slight uncommanded turn to the right. The pilot added more left pedal, but the helicopter quickly picked up momentum and speed until the helicopter was spinning out of control. The pilot then lowered the collective pitch lever and the helicopter struck the runway surface, resulting in substantial damage. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 268 hours in all; 21 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 3, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,399 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Performance Helicopters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LCH Lake Charles LA at 2:30 am
- Destination: LCH Lake Charles LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from KLCH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on December 17, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 - Helicopter Showing Marks on Runway Surface (Airport Operations Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 - Close View of the Rear End of the Tail Boom (Airport Operations Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3 - Showing Damage to Tail Rotor Mast and Bell Crank Support Arm (Operator's Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 4 - Showing Damage to Tail Boom (Operator's Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- Robinson R22 817 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A 254 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lake Charles Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Louisiana 1,274 since 1982 · 189 in the last ten years
- Louisiana 3,729 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN11LA283.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.