Robinson R22 BETA accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 5, 1991
On May 5, 1991 at about 9:38 pm local time, a Robinson R22 BETA (helicopter), registered N2360K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ann Arbor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1991 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Ann Arbor, Michigan · Ann Arbor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N2360K · registry record · serial 0525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,355 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,055 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 4, 1971; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRIV Ann Arbor MI at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:38 pm from ARB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI91LA146.