ANN ARBOR, MI, USA
N2360K
ROBINSON R22 BETA
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING FLT, HE NOTED RPM FLUCTUATIONS & A WARNING BUZZER. HE ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE TO 100% & NOTED THAT ALL GAGES WERE 'IN THE GREEN.' HE CHECKED THE CARBURETOR (CARB) HEAT GAGE & NOTED IT WAS ONE NEEDLE WIDTH ABOVE THE YELLOW SECTION & THAT THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 9 DEG C (48 DEG F). WITH THESE INDCNS, HE DISCOUNTED CARB ICE & DID NOT APPLY CARB HEAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENG LOST ADDITIONAL POWER BEFORE THE PLT COULD REACH THE RWY. DURING AN EMERG LANDING, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. AN EXAM & SUBSEQUENT ENG RUN REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES, EXCEPT THAT THE CARB AIR TEMP GAGE WAS INDICATING 4 DEG C ABOVE THE ACTUAL TEMP. TEMP & DEW POINT AT ANN ARBOR WERE 51 & 50 DEG F, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO CARB ICE CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE.
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND A FALSE INDICATION FROM THE CARBURETOR AIR TEMPERATURE GAGE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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