Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft CORP TH55A/269A accident near Monroe, Louisiana, June 3, 2021
On June 3, 2021 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1969 Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft CORP TH55A/269A (helicopter), registered N41G, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Monroe, Louisiana (Monroe Rgnl airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during landing which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2021 · about 5:15 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Monroe, Louisiana · Monroe Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft CORP TH55A/269A, built 1969 · all TH55A/269As on the register
- Registration
- N41G · registry record · serial 291097(67-16990)
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that on short final to land, the helicopter lost tail rotor authority and the helicopter began an uncommanded right yaw. He attempted to recover and landed on a grass area which resulted in a hard landing. The fuselage and skids sustained substantial damage. The pilot noted on his report of the accident that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Hard landing during landing
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,620 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 2,210 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,324 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2020; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 12,784 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 12:23 pm from KMLU
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KMLU 031723Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/18 A3002 RMK AO2 T02670178=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Overall view of helicopter after removal from accident site
Photo 2 – Damage to fuselage structureThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 15, 2021. 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 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness in Helicopters Safety Alert | PDF, 3 pages | 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
- N41G on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft Corp TH55 6 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A 16 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Monroe Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Louisiana 1,274 since 1982 · 189 in the last ten years
- Louisiana 3,734 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN21LA253.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.