Robinson R44 N999EV
2 February 2000 · Palo Alto, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 2 February 2000 at about 22:37 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N999EV, operated by Gary Lampert, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:37
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Palo Alto, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Palo Alto (PAO)
- Coordinates
- 37.3309, -121.7698
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N999EV
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gary Lampert
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- San Carlos → Palo Alto
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX00LA086
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, resulting in a loss of engine power, and, his misjudged autorotation approach that resulted in a collision with the ground during the landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot and passenger were inbound to land and the pilot requested permission to perform an autorotation, which was approved. The pilot reported that he did not think he was going to reach the runway during the autorotation so he added power. The engine failed to respond and the tail stinger contacted the ground resulting in the separation of the tail boom. The pilot pulled collective pitch; the helicopter briefly became airborne, and spun violently to the right. The pilot maintained a level attitude and the helicopter landed hard. After the rotor stopped, they exited the helicopter. The pilot stated that he should have used carburetor heat prior to the extended engine idle period of the autorotation. The temperature and dew point were in the serious icing-glide power range.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 2000 | Robinson R44 | Cayey | Avietch | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 2001 | Robinson R44 | Gorst, Washington, United States | Classic Helicopter Corp. | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 Dec 2001 | Robinson R44 | Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States | WW Helicopters | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Jul 2002 | Robinson R44 | Bavaro, Dominican Republic | Helicopteros del Caribe, S.A. | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 2002 | Robinson R44 | Del Rio, Texas, United States | Holt Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jun 2002 | Robinson R44 | Houston, Texas, United States | Merwin H. Wilkinson | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2000 | Piper PA-30 | Davis, California, United States | Travis AFB Aeroclub | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 2000 | Cessna 150H | Corona, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 2000 | Cessna 182L | Coulterville, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 31 May 2000 | Cessna 152 | Palm Springs, California, United States | The FLT School At Palm Springs | Fatal | 2 |
| 6 Nov 2000 | Cessna 340A | Selma, California, United States | Yecny Enterprises, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Feb 2000 | Cessna 172N | Palm Springs, California, United States | Bermuda Dunes Air Service | Minor injuries | - |