Robinson R44 N379SH

Summary

On 1 October 2023 at about 17:30 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N379SH, operated by Jacasky LLC, was involved in an accident near Hochatown, Oklahoma, 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

1 October 2023 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hochatown, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

34.1603, -94.7522

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N379SH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2012

Engines

1

Operator

Jacasky LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA004

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation due to the improper engine idle setting and rigging of the carburetor heat control which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was conducting a practice autorotation during a proficiency flight about 400 ft above ground level (agl). As he reduced the engine speed to idle, the engine lost total power. The pilot entered an autorotation and completed a forced landing to a field. The helicopter landed hard and the tailboom was severed by the main rotor blades. Examination of the engine revealed that the idle speed was set below 50 percent, which was below the manufacturer’s recommendation of 60 to 65 percent. Additionally, the carburetor heat control cable was rigged improperly, and therefore, was jammed in the full heat position. The combination of these factors would have likely made the engine more susceptible to losing power, especially with an abrupt power reduction initiated by the pilot during the simulated autorotation. After reviewing the available maintenance records, it is possible the engine idle speed was improperly set, and the carburetor heat control was improperly rigged when the engine was overhauled and installed in the helicopter; however, investigators were unable to establish exactly when the misrigging took place or why it was not noticed during subsequent maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.