# NTSB MIA05LA135: Robinson R-22B, N2614D, Gulfport, MS, July 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2005, 10:19 local (15:19 UTC) - Place: Gulfport, MS - Coordinates: 30.406665, -89.071662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4067&lon=-89.0717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61988 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61988/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA135 ## Probable cause A loss engine power for undetermined reasons, that resulted in a forced landing, and damage to the helicopter during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The instructor said that the student was flying the helicopter, and they were in a left-handed traffic pattern, on the downwind leg, at an altitude of about 550 feet, with the intent to practice maximum performance takeoffs and straight-in autorotative landings. He stated that he reminded the student to activate the carburetor heat, as the student reached forward he heard the engine cease operating, he said he never "observed" the student pull the carburetor heat. The engine rpm immediately "dropped all the way down", and he heard the engine correspondingly cease to operate. The instructor said he immediately took control of the helicopter from the student, entered the autorotation, and affected a landing to a golf course. During the landing, the helicopter incurred damage. Under the supervision of an FAA inspector the helicopter was examined, and the engine was given a test-run, and no preaccident anomalies were noted to exist with the airframe flight controls or the engine. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2005, about 1019 central daylight time, a Robinson R-22B, N2614D, registered to and operated by Vortex Helicopters Incorporated, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed in Gulfport, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated instructor and private-rated student were not injured, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated the same day, about 1000. The instructor said that he and the student had been operating the helicopter in the traffic pattern at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport when the accident occurred. According to the instructor, the student was flying the helicopter, and they were in a left-handed traffic pattern, on the downwind leg at an altitude of about 550 feet, with the intent to practice maximum performance takeoffs and straight-in autorotative landings. The instructor stated that he reminded the student to activate the carburetor heat, as the student reached forward he heard the engine quit running, the instructor never "observed" the student pull the carburetor heat. The engine rpm immediately "dropped all the way down" and he heard the engine correspondingly cease to operate. The instructor said he immediately took control of the helicopter from the student, entered the autorotation, and affected a landing to a golf course. During the landing, the helicopter incurred damage, which included damage to the main rotor, tailboom, skids and skid supports. The student pilot stated that he was practicing maximum performance take-off and autorotative landings with his flight instructor. When they were on the downwind leg, the instructor reminded him to make sure the carburetor heat was on, as he reached down to pull the carburetor heat, the engine stalled. The student didn't recall pulling the carburetor heat control or if his hand was on the carburetor heat knob. He said the instructor took control of the helicopter and preformed an autorotation, flared "hard" to avoid trees on the golf course. Upon impact with the ground, the student observed pieces of the tail rotor fly by as they spun sideways. The instructor pulled the rotor break to stop the rotor blades from turning. They excited the helicopter and waited for the police to arrive. An onscene examination was conducted under the supervision of an FAA inspector, and the examination revealed that the fuel shut off lever was in the on position, the carburetor heat control was set to "Off", the mixture control was set to "Full Rich" and the guard was in place, the main and auxiliary fuel tank positions displayed the presence of fuel, and the engine Hobbs meter displayed 6019.0 hours. In addition, a follow-on examination, as well as a test-run was performed on the engine, and it operated normally with no anomalies being noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2614D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2614D), registered now, S/N 0727, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22B - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 727 - Airframe hours: 6019.1 - Engines: Lycoming 320 B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Vortex Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Vortex Helicopters, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2005, 15.3 hours before - Departed: 35M, Long Beach, MS - Destination: GPT, Gulfport, MS - Airport: GPT, Gulfport Biloxi International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 452 total, 452 in this make and model, 402 as pilot in command, 187 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 107 total, 107 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: GPT, 1 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 20050716014999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050716014999A), Jul 16, 2005: Robsin R22BETA, Gulfport, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructional flight on the downwind pattern at gpt was preparing for a practice autorotation, when the engine failed. Instructor took control and began… 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.