Robinson R22 BETA accident near Theriot, Louisiana, July 3, 1999
On July 3, 1999 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 BETA (helicopter), registered N8360T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Theriot, Louisiana. It was a business 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 inadequate preflight inspection which led to a contaminated fuel supply and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available 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
- July 3, 1999 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Theriot, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N8360T · no longer on the register · serial 2758
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine of the helicopter lost power during a repositioning flight at 500 feet above ground level. The pilot initiated a straight-in autorotation to a swampy area covered with grass 4 to 5 feet tall. The helicopter settled into the grass, rolled over on its right side and came to rest heading 180 degrees from the direction of the landing. The aircraft was recovered to the helicopter manufacturer's facility for evaluation and repairs. On August 17, 1999, the engine of the helicopter was successfully run for 20 minutes under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The inspector reported that the engine performed within the established parameters. He added that water was drained from the main fuel tank, the gascolator, and the carburetor bowl.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 557 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 5, 1999; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8360T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.