N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Isabel, South Dakota 57633
Thursday, April 5, 2012 7:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While maneuvering at low altitude during a coyote hunting operation, the helicopter experienced a partial loss of engine power. The helicopter descended, impacted trees and terrain, and rolled on its right side. There was a minor fuel leak but no postimpact fire. A postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at any power setting. The pilot reported that he was unsure if he had used carburetor heat for the accident flight. Available evidence suggests that the engine partially lost power in the absence of carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/5/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 700
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Isabel
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57633
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451602N
Event Location Longitude 1012311W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 652 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 67
Weather Observation Facility ID KMBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 1716
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 44
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KMBG 051652Z AUTO 16014KT 10SM CLR 18/01 A2988 RMK
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31875
NTSB Notification Source FAA AGL Reg'l Opns Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 24 2013 4:11PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N104MH
NTSB Number CEN12LA230
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 1843
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 6197
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DUANE J KRAFT
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TIMBER LAKE
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57656-0071
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name DUANE J KRAFT
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TIMBER LAKE
Operator State SD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 57656-0071
Operator Code W7RG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number W7RG759Y
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code D58
Departure City Timber Lake
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 635
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code D58
Destination City Timber Lake
Destination State SD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 24 2013 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
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 --