# Accident 19990607006729A: Robsin R22, Salem, MO, June 7, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 7, 1999, 18:30 local time - Place: Salem, MO - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Location: 37.6306° N, 91.5309° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6306&lon=-91.5309&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9071T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9071T-2017-05-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA178) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990607006729A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 1981 ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKE-OFF, THE PILOT AUTO-ROTATED THE ACFT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE TO AVOID OBSTACLES, BUT THE ACFT CRASHED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23)N9071T WAS PILOTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FERRTING THE AIRCRAFT TO AN ARRICULTURAL FIELD SITE ON JUNE 7, 1999. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PREFLIGHT AND CHECKED PRIOR TO FLIGHT BY THE PILOT. THE HELICOPTER WAS REPOSITIONED 40 YARDS OVER A FENCE AND SET DOWN FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDING ADDITIONAL FUEL. THE REFUELING PROCESS TOOK PLACE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND AS A RESULT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANK WAS NOT CHEKCED FOR FUEL CONTAMINATION AFTERWARDS. WHEN THE REFUELING WAS COMPLETE THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED ENROUTE TO THE AG SPRAYING STIE. WITHIN ONE MOLE OF THE DEPARTURE POINT THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING FORCING THE PILOT TO SET IT DOWN IN A FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SUSPECTED FUEL STARVATION DURING THE INTERVIEW WITH INSPECTORS. DURING AUTOROTATION THE PILOT HAD TO MANEUVER THE HELICOPTER TO AVOID HITTING A TREE IN HIS PATH. THIS ACTION CAUSED HIM TO LOSE SIGNIFICANT MAIN ROTOR RPM TO SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN GENTLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE W AS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM THAN FUEL. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI99LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA178), Jun 7, 1999: Robinson R-22 (N9071T), Salem, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the engine quit due to water contamination of the fuel and the pilot's inadequate preflight. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.