Accident Robinson R22 Beta N8050B, Thursday 28 March 1991

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Thursday 28 March 1991
Time:	14:45 LT
Type:	Robinson R22 Beta
Owner/operator:	Heliicopters International
Registration:	N8050B
MSN:	1136
Year of manufacture:	1989
Engine model:	Lycoming O-360-J2A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Spring, TX - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	Tomball, TX (KDWH)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, THE PILOT FAILED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT IN AN EFFORT TO REGAIN POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT APPLY APPROPRIATE COLLECTIVE CUSHIONING PITCH RESULTING IN THE HELICOPTER LANDING HARD AS THE TAIL ROTOR AND MAIN ROTOR STRUCK A TREE. TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT WERE 78/67 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY.

Probable Cause: POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT, AND HIS FAILURE TO APPLY ADEQUATE CUSHIONING COLLECTIVE PITCH DURING THE FLARE SEGMENT OF THE AUTOROTATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AUTOROTATION TECHNIQUE.

Accident investigation: