What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On August 24, 2002, at 1330 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 beta helicopter, N102MH, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain during landing approach after a loss of engine power. The landing was being made to a private heliport near Seneca, Illinois. The 14 CFR part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the helicopter owner's private heliport (1IL7), and was landing at the boondocks campground, Seneca, Illinois. The flight originated about 30 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot stated that he was preparing to turn from the downwind leg of the landing approach to the base leg. He stated that he applied carburetor heat and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot autorotated and landed in trees that were below the helicopter when the engine failed. (-23) on August 24, 2002 the commercial pilot departed 1IL7, Seneca, IL on a day VFR flight for the intent of picking up a passenger for sight seeing. Approximately 10 minutes after take-off, while in cruise, the rotorcraft e xperienced a power loss. The pilot applied carburetor heat. The rotorcraft descended into trees near the edge of a quarry. No fire. The single occupant received minor injuries. Nothing follows.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON AUGUST 24, 2002, AT 1330 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA HELICOPTER, N102MH, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN DURING LANDING APPROACH AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LANDING WAS BEING MADE TO A PRIVATE HELIPORT NEAR SENECA, ILLINOIS. THE 14 CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE HELICOPTER OWNER'S PRIVATE HELIPORT (1IL7), AND WAS LANDING AT THE BOONDOCKS CAMPGROUND, SENECA, ILLINOIS. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PREPARING TO TURN FROM THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE LANDING APPROACH TO THE BASE LEG. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED AND LANDED IN TREES THAT WERE BELOW THE HELICOPTER WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. (-23) ON AUGUST 24, 2002 THE COMMERCIAL PILOT DEPARTED 1IL7, SENECA, IL ON A DAY VFR FLIGHT FOR THE INTENT OF PICKING UP A PASSENGER FOR SIGHT SEEING. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKE-OFF, WHILE IN CRUISE, THE ROTORCRAFT E XPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT. THE ROTORCRAFT DESCENDED INTO TREES NEAR THE EDGE OF A QUARRY. NO FIRE. THE SINGLE OCCUPANT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. NOTHING FOLLOWS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.