Robinson R66 accident near Alexandria, Louisiana, October 29, 2019
On October 29, 2019, a 2011 Robinson R66 (helicopter), registered N661CG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Alexandria, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's fixation on the instrument panel, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2019
- Place
- Alexandria, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R66 No Series, built 2011 · all R66s on the register
- Registration
- N661CG · registry record · serial 0057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had departed in the helicopter from a local field at night under visual flight rules conditions. He reported that the weather was good, that he climbed the helicopter to 1,400 ft mean sea level for the 4-mile flight, and that he began the descent about 1 mile from the destination. He reported that he had "noticed and was consumed w/Engine & Rotor RPM, in the Yellow." During the approach, the helicopter stopped moving forward and began moving backward. The helicopter landed hard in a level attitude on the grass. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,818 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,465 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 21, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 944 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce RR300/A1 (turboshaft); 944 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Alexandria LA
- Destination: Alexandria LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 24, 2020. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.