Robinson R22 N9071K

Summary

On 5 April 2003 at about 16:30 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N9071K was involved in an accident near Freer, Texas, United States. One person was 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.

Date

5 April 2003 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Freer, Texas, United States

Coordinates

27.8836, -98.6003

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N9071K

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cotulla → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA124

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as result of the pilot's failure to refuel en route. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was herding cattle and the helicopter was in a gentle right turn approximately 25 mph and about 20 to 30 feet AGL, when he noted a sudden loss of engine power. The pilot lowered the collective and entered an autorotation to an open area directly ahead of the aircraft. During the landing, one of the landing skids sank into the dirt and the helicopter pitched forward resulting in the main rotor blades impacting the ground. The pilot stated that the fuel gauge was reading between 5/8 and 3/4 full (13 to 14 gallons) prior to his departure from the ranch. The pilot added that the low fuel warning light did not come on prior to the reported loss of engine power. The fuel tank was found to be empty at the accident site.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.