Robinson R22 N62JF

Summary

On 11 August 2011 at about 12:30 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N62JF was involved in an accident near Titusville, Florida, 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.

Date

11 August 2011 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Titusville, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Arthur Dunn Air Park (X21)

Coordinates

28.6225, -80.8353

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N62JF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jacksonville → Titusville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA448

Nobody was injured.

The private pilot's incorrect manipulation of the engine mixture control which resulted in an inadvertent engine shutdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The two certificated rotorcraft pilots were conducting a ferry flight. According to both pilots, the helicopter was on approach to land for a refueling stop when the airline transport pilot flying asked the private pilot to apply carburetor heat. The private pilot inadvertently pulled-out the engine mixture control with the mixture control guard, which resulted in an immediate total loss of engine power. The helicopter was at an altitude between 300 to 400 feet, when the airline transport pilot entered an autorotation, while the private pilot attempted to restart the engine. The engine did not restart before the helicopter struck trees, a fence, and then nosed over. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the airframe and both the main and tail rotor drive systems. Both pilots reported there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.