Robinson R22 Beta accident near Morgan City, Louisiana, May 10, 2007
On May 10, 2007 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N437EM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morgan City, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2007 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Morgan City, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N437EM · registry record · serial 3754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The reciprocating-engine powered helicopter lost engine power while in cruise flight. The 115-hour student helicopter pilot reported that the helicopter was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet when he "felt a change in torque or something." The pilot activated the carburetor heat and the engine power slowly decayed. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a marsh area. During the forced landing the main rotor blade contacted and separated the tailboom assembly. Post-examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. The carburetor heat control was found in the automatic mode, the engine sparkplugs appeared normal, and there was approximately a half-tank of fuel in the helicopter's fuel cell. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: private, student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 465 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 2007; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HUM Houma LA
- Destination: Morgan City LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from HUM, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.