Robinson R22 BETA N437EM

Summary

On 10 May 2007 at about 16:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N437EM was involved in an accident near Morgan City, Louisiana, 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

10 May 2007 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Morgan City, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.5664, -90.6603

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N437EM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houma → Morgan City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07LA116

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The reciprocating-engine powered helicopter lost engine power while in cruise flight. The 115-hour student helicopter pilot reported that the helicopter was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet when he "felt a change in torque or something." The pilot activated the carburetor heat and the engine power slowly decayed. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a marsh area. During the forced landing the main rotor blade contacted and separated the tailboom assembly. Post-examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. The carburetor heat control was found in the automatic mode, the engine sparkplugs appeared normal, and there was approximately a half-tank of fuel in the helicopter's fuel cell. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.