Sikorsky SK-76A accident near New Iberia, Louisiana, July 10, 2001
On July 10, 2001 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Sikorsky SK-76A (helicopter), registered N164AG, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Iberia, Louisiana (Air Logistics Sabine Heliport airport). It was a positioning 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 control while maneuvering for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2001 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Iberia, Louisiana · Air Logistics Sabine Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky SK-76A
- Registration
- N164AG · no longer on the register · serial 760290
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a cross country positioning flight, the pilot noticed that the in-flight ride was a "little rougher" than most S-76 model helicopters that he had flown. He decided to initiate an auto rotation RPM check. After disengaging the autopilot, he lowered the collective and retarded the throttles to idle. Subsequently, the nose "pitched up and snapped to the left to a vertical descent." After the pilot advanced the throttles, the aircraft began to shake "violently." Subsequently, he recovered "full control." After landing, a post flight inspection revealed damage to the main rotor blades and hub. Further inspection of the hub and blades revealed that all 4 blades had cracks about 1 foot outboard of the blade root seals. All 4 spindle assemblies and flap restrainers were also damaged. No impact damage was observed on the hub or blades.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,053 hours in all; 9,255 in this make and model; 269 in the last 90 days; 105 in the last 30 days; 11,536 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C30S (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LA09 Intracoastal LA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 95XS Sabine Pass LA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
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.