20020828026019A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R44 · Winstanleylake, AK · August 28, 2002

Date: August 28, 2002 · 20:45 local
Place: Winstanleylake, AK
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7189T
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC02FA108
Reported as: Robsin R44
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 2

N7189TRegistration cancelled Jun 1, 2017 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0870 · Built 2000 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Notified on 8-29-02 of N7189T R-44 accident that may have occurred on 8-28-02. 2 persons on board were found by local operator upside down in lake. A/c was floating by the floats attached to the skids. Kvrs could not recover bodies until late 8-29-02. Ntsb/faa attempted to get to site on Friday 8-29-02 @ 1340 but could not get in due to wx. State troopers could not get to bodies until 9-01-02. Waiting to move wreckage to ktn for examination. Processing of accident ongoing. 09-24-02 met NTSB, Robinson tech, Lycoming tech in ktn at temsco hanger to examine the wreckage. No indication of mechanical failure at this time. Emergency pontoons not deployed by pilot, other items not known at this time.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) NOTIFIED ON 8-29-02 OF N7189T R-44 ACCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED ON 8-28-02. 2 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FOUND BY LOCAL OPERATOR UPSIDE DOWN IN LAKE. A/C WAS FLOATING BY THE FLOATS ATTACHED TO THE SKIDS. KVRS COULD NOT RECOVER BODIES UNTIL LATE 8-29-02. NTSB/FAA ATTEMPTED TO GET TO SITE ON FRIDAY 8-29-02 @ 1340 BUT COULD NOT GET IN DUE TO WX. STATE TROOPERS COULD NOT GET TO BODIES UNTIL 9-01-02. WAITING TO MOVE WRECKAGE TO KTN FOR EXAMINATION. PROCESSING OF ACCIDENT ONGOING. 09-24-02 MET NTSB, ROBINSON TECH, LYCOMING TECH IN KTN AT TEMSCO HANGER TO EXAMINE THE WRECKAGE. NO INDICATION OF MECHANICAL FAILURE AT THIS TIME. EMERGENCY PONTOONS NOT DEPLOYED BY PILOT, OTHER ITEMS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC02FA108Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportKetchikan, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter in-flight due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with the surface of a lake. Factors contributing to the accident were the high terrain surrounding the…Aug 29, 2002 · Substantial damage