Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cayey
Monday, January 3, 2000 14:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 700 feet over a residential area when the helicopter experienced a reported loss of engine and rotor rpm. The pilot did not activate the carburetor heat as required by the pilot operating handbook. The pilot lowered the collective pitch and increased throttle with negative results. He initiated a forced landing to a field but realized he would not be able to reach it. He made a forced landing to a residential carport. The right skid slipped through the roof, the aircraft rolled over on its right side and the main rotor blades collided with the roof. Examination of the airframe and flight controls revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. The engine assembly was removed and mounted in a dynamometer test cell. The engine was started and produced engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat as required by the Pilot's Operating Handbook resulting in a loss of engine and rotor rpm, forced landing to none suitable terrain (residence), and subsequent roll over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/3/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City CAYEY
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00736
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1458 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SJU
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10150
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 4 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 744
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N233MP
NTSB Number MIA00FA060
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 Robinson
Aircraft Model R44
Aircraft Series Identifier R44
Aircraft Serial Number 0619
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 5 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 139
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HELI-SECURE CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 8621
Aircraft Owner City SANTUREE
Aircraft Owner State PR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00910
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AVIETCH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 41268
Operator City SAN JUAN
Operator State PR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00940
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SIG
Departure City SAN JUAN
Departure State PR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1310
Departure Time Zone AST
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 13 2001 4:03AM
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 --