Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Unalaska, Alaska 99685
Tuesady, August 30, 2011 13:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, the engine ran rough for about three engine revolutions before losing total power. The pilot entered an emergency autorotation and landed the helicopter in a shallow bay. Postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation; however, a detailed engine examination was not completed. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to severe carburetor icing at both cruise and glide power settings. Although carburetor icing was a possible initiating event for the loss of engine power, carburetor icing could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/2011
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone --
Event City Unalaska
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99685
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 532300N
Event Location Longitude 1673830W
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1358 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID PADU
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR PADU 302158Z 21008KT 10SM SCT024 BKN090 14/0
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) 29773
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2012 3:02PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N169CW
NTSB Number ANC11LA099
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 3002
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BERING PACIFIC RANCHES LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 32 ABINGDON CRESCENT NE
Aircraft Owner City CALGARY ALBERTA
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode T2A 6-S3
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BERING PACIFIC RANCHES LTD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 32 ABINGDON CRESCENT NE
Operator City CALGARY ALBERTA
Operator State --
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code T2A 6-S3
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DUT
Departure City Unalaska
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Fort Glenn
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2012 3:02PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --