# NTSB ANC12CA082: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N74496, Wainwright, AK, July 31, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2012, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Wainwright, AK - Coordinates: 70.638053, -159.99472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.6381&lon=-159.9947&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Wrong fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84552/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84552 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA082 ## Probable cause The failure of ground personnel to ensure the helicopter was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to monitor the fueling process. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Ground crew; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid type (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Wrong fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After landing at the airport, the pilot asked ground personnel to fuel the helicopter while he prepared a sling load for his next flight. The pilot said that while he was weighing the sling load cargo on a nearby scale, the ground crew finished fueling the helicopter. The pilot then signed the fuel delivery manifest for the 25.4 gallons of aviation fuel. Shortly thereafter, the pilot boarded the helicopter and started the engine. He said that after liftoff, he picked up the 775-pound sling load and then departed toward his destination. About 10 to 15 seconds after takeoff, the engine began to run rough and lose power, so the pilot elected to land, but while attempting to set the sling load on the ground, all engine power was lost. The low rotor warning horn sounded, the pilot entered a low-altitude emergency autorotation and attempted to cushion the landing, but the helicopter landed hard. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail rotor drive system. A postaccident examination revealed that the reciprocating engine helicopter had been inadvertently serviced with Jet A turbine fuel. In a written statement, the ground personnel who fueled the helicopter stated that they thought they were fueling the helicopter with aviation gas, but they were using the same trailer that they used to fuel larger (turbine-powered) helicopters. ## Factual narrative After landing at the airport, the pilot asked ground personnel to fuel the helicopter, while he prepared a sling load for his next flight. The pilot said that while he was weighing the sling load cargo on a nearby scale, the ground crew finished fueling the helicopter. The pilot then signed the fuel delivery manifest for the 25.4 gallons of “avgas” aviation fuel. Shortly thereafter, the pilot boarded the helicopter and started the engine. He said that after liftoff he picked up the 775 pound sling load, and then departed towards his destination. About 10 to 15 seconds after takeoff the engine began to run rough and lose power, so he elected to land, but while attempting to set the sling load on the ground, all engine power was lost. The low rotor warning horn sounded, and the pilot entered a low altitude emergency autorotation and attempted to cushion the landing, but the helicopter landed hard. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and tail rotor drive system. A postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the reciprocating engine helicopter had been inadvertently serviced with Jet A turbine fuel. In a written statement given to the FAA inspector, the ground personnel who fueled the helicopter stated that they thought they were fueling the helicopter with avgas, but they were using the same trailer that they used to fuel larger (turbine powered) helicopters. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74496](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74496-2014-11-03), registration cancelled 2014-11-03, S/N 10755, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10755 - Airframe hours: 2752 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Pollux Aviation Ltd - Registered owner: Pollux Aviation Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAWI, Wainwright, AK - Destination: Wainwright, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,600 total, 1,330 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20120731018369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120731018369A), Jul 31, 2012: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Wainwright, AK, Substantial damage. R 44 rotorcraft (pollux aviation ltd. N74496) pilot not involved with aircraft refueling, thus incorrect refuel type jet-a put into rotorcraft's main fuel tank… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84552. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380818&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Ground Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ground%20Crew%20Statements-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.