Amateur-built 260L accident near Livingston, Tennessee, August 18, 2021
On August 18, 2021 at about 11:50 pm local time, a 2018 amateur-built 260L (helicopter), registered N777TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Livingston, Tennessee (Livingston Municipal 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
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s operation of the helicopter in a flight regime that would not allow for a successful autorotative landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2021 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Livingston, Tennessee · Livingston Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 260L NO SERIES, built 2018
- Registration
- N777TC · registry record · serial 0834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated takeoff in the helicopter, and when passing through effective translational lift, with an airspeed between 40 and 50 knots, and about 100 to 150 ft above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a sudden complete loss of power. He lowered the collective, made a partial throttle reduction, and entered an autorotation, but engine power increased when the helicopter was at 70 to 75 ft agl and 50 knots. He increased the throttle, and the engine power increased to full rpm. As he increased collective, the engine “sputtered and quit instantly.” The helicopter was operating in the shaded area of the helicopter’s height/velocity diagram, which, according to guidance, may not allow sufficient time or altitude to enter a stabilized autorotative descent. Although the pilot rapidly lowered the collective to gain energy in the main rotor blades, there was not enough inertia in them for a normal autorotative landing. The helicopter landed hard on soft wet terrain resulting in structural damage to one of the steel tubes that attached the tailboom. During postaccident examination of the helicopter and its engine, one fuel injector nozzle flowed slightly less than the other five; however, it likely did not contribute to the twice-repeated total loss of engine power. The examination of the engine and its systems revealed no other evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The reason for the twice-repeated total loss of engine power 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 780 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 31, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 117 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 21, 2020; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VIO-435-A1F (piston); 140 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from SRB, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSRB 182355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN100 24/23 A3014 RMK A01=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on July 26, 2023. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Passenger Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of NTSB Conversations | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Additional Information from Pilot/owner of N777TC | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Statement from Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Height Velocity Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for Record - Controller Examination and Operational Testing | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15, and NTSB Evidence Control Form | 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.
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.