# Accident 20110923021579A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Curran, MI, September 23, 2011 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 23, 2011, 21:00 local time - Place: Curran, MI - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 45.0781° N, 83.5603° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0781&lon=-83.5603&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8324F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8324F-2017-09-26) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 - Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11FA666](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA666) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110923021579A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2011, APPROXIMATELY 2100 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R44 SINGLE-ENGINE HELICOPTER, N8324F, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACT TREES AND TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR CURRAN, MICHIGAN. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE PILOT'S RESIDENCE NEAR RICHMOND, MICHIGAN, APPROXIMATELY 1830, ENROUTE TO A PRIVATE HUNTING CAMP. THE AIRCRAFT REFUELED AT THE MARLETTE TOWNSHIP (77G) ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 AT 1913 LOCAL TIME.INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. AMENDED 01/27/2012 AS FOLLOWS: FINAL FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY FATAL ACCIDENT REPORT: January 12, 2012. SPECIMENS Blood, Gastric, Heart, Kidney, Liver, Lung, Muscle, Spleen, Unknown. CARBON MONOXIDE: The carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) saturation is determined by gas chromatography TCD with a 10% cut off. >> NO CARBON MONOXIDE detected in Blood >>CYANIDE: The presence of cyanide is screened by Conway Diffusion. Positive cyanides are quantitated by spectrophotometry and confirmed by chromatography. The reporting cutoff for cyanide is 0.25 ug/mL. Normal blood cyanide concentrations are less than 0.15 ug/mL, while lethal concentrations are greater than 3 ug/mL. >> NO CYANIDE detected in Blood VOLATILES: The volatile concentrations are determined by headspace gas chromatography at a cut off of 10 mg/dL. Where possible, positive ethanol values are confirmed by Radiative Energy Attenuation. >> NO ETHANOL detected in Blood DRUGS: Immunoassay and/or chromatography are used to screen for drugs. GC/Mass Spec, HPLC/Mass Spec, or GC/FTIR is used to confirm most positive results. Concentrations (ug/mL) at or above those in () can be determined for, but not limited to, the following drugs: amphetamines (0.010), opiates (0.010), marihuana (0.001), cocaine (0.020), phencyclidine (0.002), benzodiazepines (0.030), barbiturates (0.060), antidepressants (0.100), and antihistamines (0.020). >> 116.9 (ug/ml, ug/g) Acetaminophen detected in Blood >> 0.036 (ug/mL, ug/g) Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam detected in Blood >> 1.09 (ug/ml, ug/g) Benzoylecgonine detected in Blood >> 2.302 (ug/ml, ug/g) Benzoylecgonine detected in Liver >> 0.04 (ug/ml, ug/g) Cocaine detected in Blood >> 0.082 (ug/ml, ug/g) Cocaine detected in Liver >> Desmethylsildenafil detected in Liver >> Desmethylsildenafil detected in Blood >> 0.054 (ug/mL, ug/g) Dihydrocodeine detected in Blood >> 0.051 (ug/mL, ug/g) Dihydrocodeine detected in Liver >> 0.039 (ug/ml, ug/g) Diphenhydramine detected in Blood >> Diphenhydramine detected in Liver >> Ecgonine Methyl Ester detected in Blood >> Ecgonine Methyl Ester detected in Liver >> 0.179 (ug/ml, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in Liver >> 0.506 (ug/ml, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in Blood >> Ibuprofen detected in Blood >> Pseudoephedrine detected in Blood. Russell Lewis, Ph.D. TC, FAA, Forensic Toxicology Research Team CAMI. For comprehensive information concerning all drugs detected by the laboratory, see the CAMI Drug Information Web Site http://jag.cami.jccbi.gov/toxicology/. National Transportation Safety Board, Du Page Airport, 31 West 775 North Avenue West Chicago, IL 60185. ACCIDENT: # 0233 INDIVIDUAL#: 001 NAME: LOGGHE, DAN. MODE: AVIATION. DATE OF ACCIDENT: 09/23/2011. DATE RECEIVED: 10/06/2011 PUTREFACTION: Yes N # 8324F, NTSB # CEN11FA666, CAMI REF # 20110023300,1 LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: Curren, MI. ## 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 CEN11FA666](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA666), Sep 24, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N8324F), Curren, MI, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and the ground. Contributing to the… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.