# NTSB CHI00LA134: Robinson R22 Beta, N8321K, Ham Lake, MN, May 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 2000, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Ham Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.249134, -93.329574 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2491&lon=-93.3296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 12, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49174/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=49174 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA134 ## Probable cause carburetor ice. Factors relating to this accident were the icing conditions, the pilot's attempted emergency landing and the low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Roll over, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The helicopter took off from the roof of a building and was turned into the wind. The pilot said as he started forward, 'the rpms start to drop.' The manifold pressure was 24 inches. He continued forward, manipulating the collective and throttle, so that he could clear a nearby 2-story building. 'When I cleared the roof line, I dropped the collective, rolled the throttle and aft cyclic, but [I] didn't have enough altitude to recover, and into the ground we went.' An examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies. The weather report for Anoka, Minnesota, 10 miles south-southeast of the accident site, 20 minutes before the accident, was 800 overcast, 2 miles visibility with fog, temperature 60 degrees F, and dew point 58 degrees F. DOT/FAA Publication CT-82/44, Light Aircraft Piston Engine Carburetor Ice Detector/Warning Device Sensitivity/Effectiveness, June 1982, Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, shows for a temperature of 60 degrees F, and a dew point of 58 degrees F, 'serious icing conditions at cruise power' exists. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 2000, at 1715 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N8321K, operated by a private pilot, lost power just after takeoff from the roof of a public building in Ham Lake, Minnesota. The helicopter was subsequently destroyed when it impacted the terrain and rolled over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In his written statement, the pilot said that he took off from the roof of a building and turned into the wind. He said that as he started forward, "the rpms start to drop." The pilot checked his manifold pressure and saw it was 24 inches. He continued forward, manipulating the collective and throttle, so that he could clear a nearby 2-story building. "When I cleared the roof line, I dropped the collective, rolled the throttle and aft cyclic, but [I] didn't have enough altitude to recover, and into the ground we went." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)inspector examined the helicopter at the accident site. The cockpit and fuselage were crushed inward and aft. The windscreen was broken out. The main rotor blades were bent and twisted. The left skid was bent inward. The tail boom was severed midway between the fuselage and the tail rotor system. Control continuity was confirmed. The engine, engine controls, and other helicopter systems revealed no anomalies. At 1655 cdt, the Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) for Anoka County Airport, Anoka, Minnesota, 10 miles south-southeast of the accident site, was 800 overcast, 2 miles visibility with fog, temperature 60 degrees F, dew point 58 degrees F, and altimeter 29.39 inches of Mercury (Hg). Department of Transportation/FAA Publication CT-82/44, Light Aircraft Piston Engine Carburetor Ice Detector/Warning Device Sensitivity/Effectiveness, June 1982, Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, shows for a temperature of 60 degrees F, and a dew point of 58 degrees F, "serious icing conditions at cruise power" exists. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8321K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8321K-2000-10-04), registration cancelled 2000-10-04, S/N 2531 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2531 - Airframe hours: 1016 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Midstate Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 23, 2000, 1,016 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 281 total, 281 in this make and model, 281 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ANE, 10 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 20000511009599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000511009599A), May 11, 2000: Robsin R22BETA, Ham Lake, MN, No damage. (-23) A/c lost power on take-off, pilot cleared a building, lost forward motion and dropped 15 feet to the ground and rolled over. No mechanical problems found… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2001, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=49174. 85 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40132840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.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.