# NTSB ANC02LA043: Robinson R-44, N7130G, Galena, AK, June 7, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 2002, 18:45 local (Jun 7, 2002, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Galena, AK - Coordinates: 64.74028, -156.72528 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7403&lon=-156.7253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing which precipitated a grass fire. Factors contributing to the accident were the manufacturer's inadequate design of the helicopter's exhaust system, placing it low to the ground, and terrain conditions consisting of dry tussock grass. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - idling rotors - exhaust system (contributing factor) - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot landed the skid-equipped helicopter in an area of brush/grass to pick up two passengers who had been conducting a ground survey. The pilot stayed at the controls of the helicopter, and reduced the engine rpm to 70 percent as the ground personnel were loading their equipment into external baskets on the helicopter. The equipment included packs and a chain saw. The ground personnel reported that the chain saw had not been used in the previous hour, and the engine was cold. The pilot smelled smoke, and the passengers noticed flames under the helicopter. The pilot attempted to regain full engine rpm to lift-off from the landing area, but was unable to do so because the engine quit running. The pilot exited the helicopter, and along with the ground personnel, attempted to extinguish the flames on the ground. They were unsuccessful, and the pilot attempted to restart the helicopter. It would not start. The fire consumed the helicopter, and about 60 acres of brush/grass. This model helicopter's exhaust system is positioned at the rear and bottom portion of the aft fuselage. The underside of the engine area is open, allowing cooling-fan air to exit aft and downward, around the muffler and exhaust. The bottom of the muffler, at the rear area of the engine compartment is about 19.5 inches above the ground. The exhaust pipe, routed through the rear bulkhead of the engine compartment, exits the aft end of the fuselage about 27 inches above the ground. The pilot/operator manual for the helicopter contains a safety advisory that states, in part: "Never land in tall dry grass. The exhaust is low to the ground and very hot; a grass fire may be ignited." ## Factual narrative On June 6, 2002, about 1845 Alaska daylight time, a skid-equipped Robinson R-44 helicopter, N7130G, was destroyed by fire after landing about 5 miles east of Galena, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The helicopter was operated by Quicksilver Air Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and two ground personnel, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 7, the director of operations for the operator reported the pilot landed in an area of brush/grass to pick up two passengers who had been conducting a ground survey. The pilot stayed at the controls of the helicopter, and reduced the engine rpm to 70 percent as the ground personnel were loading their equipment into external baskets on the helicopter. The pilot told the director of operations that he smelled smoke, and the passengers noticed flames under the helicopter. The director of operations said that the pilot attempted to regain full engine rpm to lift-off from the landing area, but was unable to do so because the engine quit. The pilot exited the helicopter, and along with the ground personnel, attempted to extinguish the flames on the ground. They were unsuccessful, and the pilot attempted to restart the helicopter. It would not start. The fire consumed the helicopter, and about 60 acres of brush/grass. According to statements provided by the ground personnel, they indicated that after the helicopter landed, they began to load packs and a chain saw while the pilot remained at the controls. The ground personnel reported that the chain saw had not been used in the previous hour, and the engine was cold. The ground cover was described as dry, knee-high tussock grass. The engine was running and rotors were turning. Within 30 seconds to one minute after landing, flames were observed under the rear of the helicopter. The ground personnel indicated that the pilot attempted to regain full power to lift off, but the engine quit. The pilot exited the helicopter and attempted to put the fire out. The pilot reentered the helicopter and tried to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. All three persons removed their packs from the helicopter and moved away from the spreading fire. The Robinson R-44 helicopter's carbureted engine is positioned aft of the main cabin and is partially enclosed by cowling and structure. The engine's exhaust system consists of exhaust tubing from the engine cylinders, routed into a laterally mounted muffler, out of which is an exhaust pipe. The exhaust system is positioned at the rear and bottom portion of the aft fuselage. The underside of the engine area is open, allowing cooling-fan air to exit aft and downward, around the muffler and exhaust. The bottom of the muffler, at the rear area of the engine compartment is about 19.5 inches above the ground. The exhaust pipe, routed through the rear bulkhead of the engine compartment, exits the aft end of the fuselage about 27 inches above the ground. The pilot/operator manual for the helicopter contains a safety advisory that states, in part: "Never land in tall dry grass. The exhaust is low to the ground and very hot; a grass fire may be ignited." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7130G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7130G-2002-09-10), registration cancelled 2002-09-10, S/N 0542, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0542 - Airframe hours: 1362.8 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Quicksilver Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2002, 21.1 hours before - Departed: PAGA, GALENA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 16, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 1,986 total, 864 in this make and model, 1,930 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PAGA, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020606012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020606012849A), Jun 6, 2002: Robsin R44, Galena, AK, No damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] pilot was repositioning a survey team. He set down on dry tussocks and allowed the engine to run while the team loaded equipment.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55100. 494 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.