# NTSB ATL06LA133: Robinson R44, N140JM, Beaufort, NC, September 30, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2006, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Beaufort, NC - Coordinates: 34.566944, -76.676391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5669&lon=-76.6764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO-05, Textron Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 64641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64641/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06LA133 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, hover - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot stated that his passengers were photographing a boat off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina. He was following the boat at 50 knots at an altitude between 100 and 150 feet AGL, when he heard a "loud pop". He immediately checked all the engine instruments and noted all indications were normal. Shortly thereafter the "Low Rotor Warning Light" illuminated and the audio horn sounded. The engine and rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot increased the throttle, but the engine did not respond. He lowered the collective pitch control and entered an autorotation to the water. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2006, at 0830 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44, N140JM, registered to a private owner, and operated by North State Aviation LLC, as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight, lost engine power and conducted a forced landing 5 miles off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina. The helicopter received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial rated pilot and the two passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Craven County Regional Airport, New Bern, North Carolina on September 30, 2006, at 0800. The pilot stated he was off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina, following a boat at 50 knots between 100 to 150 feet AGL when he heard a "loud pop. He immediately checked the engine instruments and all instruments were normal. Shortly thereafter the "Low Rotor Warning Light" illuminated and the low rpm audio horn sounded. The engine and rotor rpm began to decrease, the pilot increased the throttle, and there was no response. He lowered the collective pitch control and entered an autorotation to the water. Once the helicopter entered the water he "rolled the cyclic to stop the main rotor blades" and advised his passengers to "get out" of the helicopter as it began to sink. All personnel exited the helicopter unassisted and were picked up by a boater. Review of the helicopter logbooks revealed that the last annual inspection was conducted on January 5, 2006, at a recorded Hobbs time of 499.4 hours. The current Hobbs meter time indicated 706.1 hours. The helicopter had 206.7 hours since the last annual inspection. The helicopter was recovered to a salvage facility and examined on October 12, 2006. Examination of the airframe, and flight controls revealed no anomalies. The engine was partially dissembled. The cooling scroll shroud was removed and light rotational scoring of the interior surface of the scroll shroud was noted. Turning of the cooling scroll rotated the engine, and continuity of the crankshaft to the rear gears and to the valve train was observed. Compression and suction was attained on all six cylinders. The interior of all six cylinders was inspected with a bore scope and corrosion by-products were observed in all cylinders. Water was present in the aircraft fuel strainer, the hose from the strainer to the carburetor, and the carburetor float bowl. An undetermined amount of a liquid with the odor consistent with aviation gasoline was found in the fuel tank. The fuel strainer screen and the carburetor fuel inlet screen were partially covered with a white substance consistent with corrosion by-products. The carburetor throttle arm was in the full throttle position and the mixture control arm was in the full rich position. Examination of the spark plugs revealed that the electrodes were gray in color, and the electrodes wells of the lower spark plugs contained a white substance consistent with corrosion. The oil suction screen was removed and no metallic debris was found. The engine oil filter was examined and was free of debris. No evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction of the engine was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N140JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N140JM-2007-04-05), registration cancelled 2007-04-05, S/N 1247, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1247 - Airframe hours: 600 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: North State Aviation LLC. - Registered owner: Darrell & Stephanie Westmoreland - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2006, 100 hours before - Departed: EWN, NEW BERN, NC - Destination: EWN, NEW BERN, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 520 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KMRH, 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 20060930021769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060930021769A), Sep 30, 2006: Robsin R44, Beaufort, NC, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was conducting aerial sight seeing and photography five miles off the coast of Beaufort, NC. Pilot flew backwards alongside a boat for the purpose… 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.