- Date
- August 24, 2002, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Seneca, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N102MHRobinson R22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-West Chicago, Illinois-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020824028829A
- Case key
- 55822
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the low altitude, the trees, and the unsuitable terrain encountered for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during landing approach after a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he was preparing to turn from the downwind leg of the landing approach to the base leg. He stated that he applied carburetor heat and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot autorotated and landed in trees that were below the helicopter when the engine failed. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the inner wire of the carburetor heat control cable was fractured. The carburetor heat slide valve was found in an intermediate position. No other preexisting anomalies were found.
Factual narrative
On August 24, 2002, at 1330 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N102MH, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain during landing approach after a loss of engine power. The landing was being made to a private heliport near Seneca, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the helicopter owner's private heliport, and was landing at the Boondocks Campground, Seneca, Illinois. The flight originated about 30 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot stated that he was preparing to turn from the downwind leg of the landing approach to the base leg. He stated that he applied carburetor heat and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot autorotated and landed in trees that were below the helicopter when the engine failed.
A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the inner wire of the carburetor heat control cable was fractured. The carburetor heat slide valve was found in an intermediate position. No other preexisting anomalies were found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N102MH
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0519
- Airframe hours
- 2,409.8
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Seneca Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 30, 2001 · 60.2 hours before
- Departed
- 1IL7 · Seneca, IL
- Destination
- Seneca, IL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- January 11, 2002
- Seat
- Right
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- ARR, 30 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.