20030405009999A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 · Freer, TX · April 5, 2003

Date: April 5, 2003 · 10:30 local
Place: Freer, TX
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9071K
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW03LA124
Reported as: Robsin R22
Reported engine: Lycoming O320*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 13,000 total325 in this make and model21 in the last 90 days

N9071KRegistration cancelled Nov 26, 2014 · Robinson Helicopter R22S/N 0194 · Built 1981 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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) Operator was herding cattle at low altitude. While relying on the fuel gauge and low quantity light, the helicopter ran out of fuel. Autorotation was performed with a tail wind due to low altitude. As helicopter skidded forward, the skid became hung up on some uneven terrain. This caused the tial boom to pitch upward into the main rotor.privacy data omitted

As the FAA filed it

(-23) OPERATOR WAS HERDING CATTLE AT LOW ALTITUDE. WHILE RELYING ON THE FUEL GAUGE AND LOW QUANTITY LIGHT, THE HELICOPTER RAN OUT OF FUEL. AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED WITH A TAIL WIND DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE. AS HELICOPTER SKIDDED FORWARD, THE SKID BECAME HUNG UP ON SOME UNEVEN TERRAIN. THIS CAUSED THE TIAL BOOM TO PITCH UPWARD INTO THE MAIN ROTOR.^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

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 FTW03LA124Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFreer, TXThe loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as result of the pilot's failure to refuel en route. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.Apr 5, 2003 · Substantial damage