Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Arnaudville, Louisiana, August 27, 2021
On August 27, 2021 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 2005 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N827SH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Arnaudville, Louisiana. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of tail rotor drive due to a fatigue failure of the tail rotor gearbox output shaft, which resulted in a loss of control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2021 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Arnaudville, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, built 2005 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N827SH · registry record · serial 3780
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting to land at a staging location for a planned aerial application flight, the helicopter began to rotate to the right. The pilot was unable to regain control. The helicopter skids impacted a dirt field, and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its main rotor blades and fuselage. Disassembly of the helicopter for recovery revealed the tail rotor output shaft was fractured into two pieces. Examination of the output shaft revealed the fracture occurred between the mating tapered roller bearing and the bevel gear. The bevel gear side surface displayed progressive crack arrest marks consistent with fatigue cracking. Due to smear damage on the other fracture, it could not be determined if the fatigue cracking was the result of unidirectional bending fatigue (one origin) or reverse bending fatigue (two origins). The tail rotor output shaft function is to drive the tail rotor blades. A failed tail rotor output shaft would result in the loss of drive to the tail rotor blades, which in turn would cause a loss of tail rotor thrust to counter main rotor torque and loss of yaw control.
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 tail rotor effectiveness during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor drive system › Tail rotor drive shaft › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 19,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 18,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,301 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 4,596 hours total
- Operator: 1 Acadiana Helicopters Company LLC
The flight
- Departed from: New Iberia LA at 12:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 am from KLFT, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLFT 271153Z 04003KT 7SM CLR 23/22 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP145 T02330222 10244 20233 55002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA389.