N62CD

On November 1, 2024, about 2106 central daylight time, a Robinson R-44 II helicopter, N62CD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Iowa, Louisiana. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Position data indicated that the pilot initially departed from private property near Kinder, Louisiana, about 1813. He proceeded southeast and climbed to an altitude of about 800 feet mean sea level (msl). About 1826, he landed in a field near a restaurant about 1.2 miles west of the Chennault International Airport (CWF), Lake Charles, Louisiana. About 2054, the pilot departed from that field and proceeded northeast on a reciprocal course from the preceding flight. The helicopter reached an altitude of about 1,300 feet msl.

About 2101:30, the helicopter entered a left turn momentarily to westerly course and then to a northwesterly course. About 90 seconds after the initial turn, the helicopter entered a right turn to a northeasterly course and then to an easterly course. The altitude remained approximately 1,300 feet msl until the helicopter began the easterly turn. After the helicopter became established on an easterly course, the altitude decreased to about 1,050 ft msl and then increased abruptly to about 1,500 feet msl.

About 2104:17, the helicopter entered a right turn to a southerly course. Then, about 38 seconds later, the helicopter entered a gradual, descending left turn. After completing a 270° heading change to a southwesterly course, the helicopter entered an abrupt 270° right turn to a southeasterly course. The helicopter completed two additional and irregular 360° righthand turns before the final data point. The altitude continued to decrease during this time. The final data point was recorded at 2106:13. At that time, the helicopter was positioned about 85 feet north of the accident site at an altitude of approximately 200 feet msl. The elevation at the site was about 18 feet.

Figure 1 – Accident Flight Path

Figure 2 – Final Segment of Accident Flight

The helicopter impacted a two-lane asphalt road bordered by 40- to 50-foot-tall trees on both sides. A set of power lines, about 30 feet high, ran along the west side of the road. An additional set of power lines crossed perpendicular over the road about 12 feet south of the fuselage. The lines appeared to be intact with exception of a single strand which dropped about two feet from the remaining, intact portion of the line. No evidence of a power line strike by the helicopter was observed.

Figure 3 – Accident Site

Figure 4 – Accident Site

The helicopter came to rest on the road oriented on a southwest heading. The fuselage was consumed by a post-impact fire. Small debris, unaffected by the fire, extended about 25 feet from the main wreckage. The landing skids were fragmented with one section located about 220 feet from the main wreckage. The main rotor blades remained attached to the hub. One blade was fragmented with the blade tip located in the wooded area about 200 feet south of the main wreckage. The other blade was deformed but remained continuous from blade root to tip. The tailboom was resting in position relative to the fuselage. The forward portion of the tailboom exhibited impact and thermal damage; the remaining portion was intact. The tail rotor blades were intact. The tail rotor transmission rotated smoothly with corresponding rotation of the drive shaft.

An initial review by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the pilot held a student pilot certificate. There was no record of the pilot being issued a medical certificate or of having obtained medical certification under BasicMed. Preliminary review of the pilot’s logbook revealed that he had logged about 139 hours total time, all of which were in R-44 helicopters. Of that flight time, about 15 hours were at night. On the day of the accident, sunset was at 1823 and civil twilight ended at 1849.