# Accident 20100822042399A: Robinson He R44, San Diego, CA, August 22, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 22, 2010, 18:15 local time
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.6892° N, 117.1528° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6892&lon=-117.1528&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7186Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7186Z-2013-11-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HE R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540F1 SERIE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA420) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100822042399A

## Narrative

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

N7186Z, AN R44 PILOTED BY HOWARD S. LEIGHT, LANDED ON LEIGHT STAR YACHT, DOCKED IN THE CONVENTION CENTER MARINA.AT APPROXIMATELY 1515 HOURS ON AUGUST 22, 2010. HE HAD DEPARTED FROM MONTGOMERY FIELD (MYF). PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM MYF, N7186Z WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL. AT 1600 HOURS MR. LEIGHT PREPARED FOR DEPARTURE BACK TO MYF. AFTER PERFORMING MAG AND DEICING CHECKS, HE DEPARTED AFTER CONTACTING NORTH ISLAND TOWER. HE PLANNED TO FLY SOUTH OVER CORONADO BRIDGE TO MYF. LIFTING OFF HE INCREASED AIR SPEED TO 60 KNOTS.  AS HE APPROACHED THE BRIDGE, HE EXPERIENCED WHAT HE SAID WAS "A LOSS OF POWER". HE WAS ABOVE THE BRIDGE BUT COULD NOT CLIMB.HE HEARD A SCREECHING SOUND IN HIS HEAD SET. AIR SPEED DECREASED. LOW RPM HORN SOUNDED. MANIFOLD PRESSURE "WAS UP". HE PULLED UP ON COLLECTIVE. NOTHING HAPPENED. PERFORMED AN AUTO ROTATION BY TURNING INTO WIND. HE WAS FALLING SO FAST HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO FINISH TURN INTO WIND. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET HE DEPLOYED FLOATS. FLARED UP NOSE, (HE IS NOT SURE IF THE TAIL BOOM HIT THE WATER FIRST). ALL PLEXIGLASS SHATTERED. HE WENT UNDER WATER. RELEASED BELTS AS HE TRIED TO EVACUATE, HE REALIZED HIS BACK WAS HURT BAD (BECAUSE HE HAD BROKEN 3 VERTABRA). HE REMEMBERS RELEASING THE TAB ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT. (THE TAB WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN RELEASED UPON INVESTIGATION AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE). PILOT STATES HIS LOGBOOKS WERE IN THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND ARE NOW IN THE SAN DIEGO BAY. THEY WERE NOT RECOVERED. HE ALSO STATES HE DID NOT KNOW HE WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE A SFAR 73 FLIGHT REVIEW AND HAS NEVER RECEIVED ONE. HE DID ATTEND THE ROBINSON PILOT SAFETY COURSE ON 9/12/2003.  ENGINE TEARDOWN BY THE NTSB AT THE ROBINSON FACILITY REVEALED THERE WAS NO INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. MAGS, PLUGS CHECKED GOOD.  WE (NTSB/FAA SUSPECT CARB ICING AS STATED EARLIER.

## 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 WPR10LA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA420), Aug 23, 2010: Robinson R44 (N7186Z), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to utilize carburetor heat during initial climb, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

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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