Robinson R44 accident near Welsh, Louisiana, July 2, 2020
On July 2, 2020 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2002 Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N7511D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Welsh, Louisiana. It was a personal 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
A partial loss of engine power while in flight due to corrosion of engine components, which resulted in a loss of control and a subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2020 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Welsh, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 Undesignat, built 2002 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N7511D · no longer on the register · serial 1252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying the helicopter to a local area farm to wash and clean the helicopter. During the flight, the low rotor RPM horn activated, and the helicopter sustained a partial loss of engine power. The pilot immediately lowered the collective and applied power to no avail, so he elected to land the helicopter immediately. During the off-field emergency landing, about 3 to 5 ft off the ground, the helicopter started to spin to the right. The pilot applied the left pedal and “rolled off” the throttle to arrest the spin; however, the helicopter continued to spin. The helicopter impacted a flat grass field and came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and empennage. The camshaft and tappet bodies from the engine were examined and it was determined that they were worn and had spalled areas on the camshaft lobe for the No. 1 cylinder exhaust valve and its associated tappet body. Various particles were found in the engine oil filter. The oil suction screen had deterioration and holes in it due to corrosion. These conditions would have allowed debris to bypass the screen. It is likely the camshaft lobe for the No. 1 cylinder exhaust valve and its associated tappet body sustained corrosion pitting and some of the particles found in the engine oil filter were from these components. The oil suction screen failed from erosion-corrosion, preventing it from performing its function of filtering debris. The degradation and failure of these engine components resulted in a partial loss of engine power while in flight. When the corrosion sequence initiated on these various engine parts could not be determined based on the available evidence.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Emergency descent initiated during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High temperature › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,834.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2020; 8.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,401 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-540-F1B5 (piston); 55 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6R1 Welsh LA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KLCH, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLCH 021453Z 28005KT 10SM HZ BKN022 BKN030 29/26 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP166 T02940261 51007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on February 16, 2022. 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 |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Carter Aviation Services - Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 25 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Airworthiness Documents | PDF, 27 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 20-046 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 21-011 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 21-016 | PDF, 18 pages | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Party Member Forms | PDF, 2 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 N7511D 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.