Robinson Helicopter CO R66 accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 29, 2014
On October 29, 2014 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 2014 Robinson Helicopter CO R66, registered N67GA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight bird strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2014 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter CO R66 NO SERIES, built 2014
- Registration
- N67GA · registry record · serial 0485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor pilot stated the intent of the flight was to practice autorotations, 180 degree autorotations and emergency procedures at another local airport. While enroute, approximately 1500 feet above the ground, three birds flew toward the helicopter. The instructor pilot took the controls as one of the birds and the retreating main rotor blade collided. The pilot landed the helicopter without further incident. Examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage to the main rotor blade.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 942 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 99 in the last 30 days; 788 as pilot in command; 436 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 112 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 8, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 662.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 13, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C300/A1 (turboshaft); 575 hours total
- Operator: Guidance Academy, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: L38 Gonzales LA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KBTR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on May 7, 2015. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N67GA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.