Canton-Plymouth-Mettetal Airpo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plymouth, Michigan 48170
Sunday, June 13, 2010 16:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power about 2 miles northeast of the departure airport. The pilot then performed an autorotation onto a grass area. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, including damage to the main rotor blades and left side of the fuselage. The pilot was uninjured. Examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A carburetor temperature gauge had been installed in the helicopter. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat during or after the takeoff from the departure airport. Weather conditions at the time winds 290 degrees at 9 knots, gusts to 17 knots, 10 statute miles, 2,900 feet overcast, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 17 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.00 inches. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the conditions were conducive to serious icing at glide power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, which led to carburetor icing and a loss of engine power following takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/13/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Plymouth
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48170
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422053N
Event Location Longitude 0832723W
Event Location Airport Canton-Plymouth-Mettetal Airpo
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1D2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 696
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID YIP
Elevation of weather observation facility 716
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27197
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2010 11:20AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N47WK
NTSB Number CEN10CA317
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G
Aircraft Series Identifier 2
Aircraft Serial Number 2254
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 5 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7096
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jay Services LC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 25600 Woodward Ave Ste 216
Aircraft Owner City Oakland
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48067
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Huntington Woods
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48070
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 1D2
Departure City Plymouth
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 1D2
Destination City Plymouth
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 16 2010 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --