# Accident 20000202005239A: Robsin R44, Palo Alto, CA, February 2, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 2, 2000, 15:00 local time
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Airport: Palo Alto Airport-Santa Clara Cou
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3309° N, 121.7698° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3309&lon=-121.7698&mi=10
- Aircraft: N999EV, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N999EV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA086) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000202005239A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) MR LAMPERT CHOSE NOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING HIS REQUESTED AUTOROTATION AT PALO ALTO AIRPORT. WHEN HE BEGAN THE POWER RECOVERY PHASE OF THE APPROACH, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. AS HE FLARED THE A/C TRYING TO REDUCE DOWNWARD DESCENT AND FORWARD SPEED, THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND, DESTROYING THE ROTOR BLADES, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL, CAUSING A HARD LANDING AND SPLITTING THE SKIDS OF THE A/C.

## 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 LAX00LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA086), Feb 2, 2000: Robinson R44 (N999EV), Palo Alto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, resulting in a loss of engine power, and, his misjudged autorotation approach that resulted in a collision with the ground during the landing flare.…

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.

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