Accident Robinson R22 Beta N889KT, Wednesday 1 January 1992

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Date:	Wednesday 1 January 1992
Time:	16:20 LT
Type:	Robinson R22 Beta
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N889KT
MSN:	1158
Year of manufacture:	1989
Total airframe hrs:	1808 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-320-B2C
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lodi, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Stockton, CA (KSCK)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT ROUTE WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUROTATIVE DESCENT WITHOUT APPLYING FULL CARBURETOR HEAT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER. THE ENGINE FAILED DURING THE DESCENT AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED MOST OF HIS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN TURBINE POWERED HELICOPTERS.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL AND DELAY IN FLARING THE HELICOPTER FOR AN AUTOROTATIVE TOUCHDOWN. CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND THE SOFT TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Accident investigation: