Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Thursday, June 25, 2009 18:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were on a local instructional flight. The CFI stated that during cruise flight, the rpm dropped suddenly and he lowered the collective while rolling on the throttle. The engine did not respond and the helicopter impacted the ground. The CFI indicated that carburetor heat had been applied shortly before the power loss occurred. Post accident test run of the engine did not reveal any operational anomalies. At the time of the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration icing probability chart showed that icing conditions existed at glide and cruise power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power while in cruise flight for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lewiston
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83501
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 461812N
Event Location Longitude 1165704W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1756 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID LWS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1442
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25767
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 4 2009 4:10PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N836SH
NTSB Number WPR09LA314
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 HELICOPTER
Aircraft Model R22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3806
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 18 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 3088
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Jim Pope
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lewiston
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83501
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Lewis and Clark Aviation LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO Box 1484
Operator City Lewiston
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83501
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Lewiston
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1225
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Lewiston
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 4 2009 4:10PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --