Ann Arbor Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Sunday, May 5, 1991 17:38 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING FLT, HE NOTED RPM FLUCTUATIONS & A WARNING BUZZER. HE ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE TO 100% & NOTED THAT ALL GAGES WERE 'IN THE GREEN.' HE CHECKED THE CARBURETOR (CARB) HEAT GAGE & NOTED IT WAS ONE NEEDLE WIDTH ABOVE THE YELLOW SECTION & THAT THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 9 DEG C (48 DEG F). WITH THESE INDCNS, HE DISCOUNTED CARB ICE & DID NOT APPLY CARB HEAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENG LOST ADDITIONAL POWER BEFORE THE PLT COULD REACH THE RWY. DURING AN EMERG LANDING, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. AN EXAM & SUBSEQUENT ENG RUN REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES, EXCEPT THAT THE CARB AIR TEMP GAGE WAS INDICATING 4 DEG C ABOVE THE ACTUAL TEMP. TEMP & DEW POINT AT ANN ARBOR WERE 51 & 50 DEG F, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO CARB ICE CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND A FALSE INDICATION FROM THE CARBURETOR AIR TEMPERATURE GAGE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1738
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ANN ARBOR
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48104
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ANN ARBOR
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 840
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1738 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ARB
Elevation of weather observation facility 840
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 460
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 5 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43818
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:58AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2360K
NTSB Number CHI91LA146
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier R22 BETA
Aircraft Serial Number 0525
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 4 1971 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LUTZ, ROBERT A
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3966 PLEASANT LAKE RD.
Operator City ANN ARBOR
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48103
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PRIV
Departure City ANN ARBOR
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1710
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --