Robinson R22 BETA N169CW

Summary

On 30 August 2011 at about 21:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N169CW, operated by Bering Pacific Ranches Ltd, was involved in an accident near Unalaska, Alaska, 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

30 August 2011 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

53.3833, -167.6417

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N169CW

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Bering Pacific Ranches Ltd

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unalaska → Fort Glenn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC11LA099

Nobody was injured.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.