Toccoa Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Toccoa, Georgia 30577
Friday, March 24, 1995 10:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A FULL STOP LANDING, AND WAS ON DOWNWIND LEG FOR THE SECOND APPROACH, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED A FORCED LANDING AREA AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE GLIDE. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE AND THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR A COMPONENT FAILURE. A REVIEW OF WEATHER DATA DISCLOSED THAT CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT CARBURETOR HEAT WAS NOT USED DURING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/24/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City TOCCOA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30577
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TOCCOA FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TOC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 30
Airport Elevation 995
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 952 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 95
Weather Observation Facility ID AND
Elevation of weather observation facility 782
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 554
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 24 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1155
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N34WR
NTSB Number ATL95LA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROGGIO
Aircraft Model ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE
Aircraft Series Identifier ROTORWAY E
Aircraft Serial Number 3246
Certified Max Gross Weight 1424
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 100
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS, JOHN W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1 BOX 238C
Aircraft Owner City HIGHLAND
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28741
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TOC
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1025
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 4003
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --