Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 7, 1999 · Robinson R-22 · N9071T

Salem, MO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 7, 1999
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Salem, MO
Aircraft
Robinson R-22
Tail Number
N9071T
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI99LA178

The pilot reported that after preflighting the helicopter he hovered the helicopter to a location where he 'hot fueled' out of a fuel service tank that was in the flatbed of a pickup. The pilot remained at the controls while the hot refueling occurred. The pilot did not check for fuel contamination after the helicopter was hot refueled with 8 to 10 gallons of fuel. He reported taking off to relocate the helicopter to the field where agricultural spraying operations were to be conducted. He flew about 1/2 mile and was about 100 feet agl traveling at 50 knots when the helicopter yawed to the left and the low RPM light illuminated. The engine quit and he entered an autorotation. He pulled some collective to avoid a tree. He reported that he completed the autorotation, but the helicopter was in a high rate of descent with very little blade inertia when he impacted the ground. An inspection of the helicopter revealed that the fuel sump, carburetor, and adjacent fuel lines were contaminated with water. A fuel sample was taken from the bottom of the fuel service tank located on the back of the pickup, and it was contaminated with water.

NTSB Probable Cause

the engine quit due to water contamination of the fuel and the pilot's inadequate preflight.

Full Narrative

On June 7, 1999, at 1830 central daylight time, a Robinson R-22, N9071T, was substantially damaged after takeoff. The 14 CFR Part 137 sprayer equipped helicopter was departing a field five miles south of Salem, Missouri, en route to a nearby field where the helicopter was going to be loaded with chemicals for aerial spraying. The helicopter climbed approximately 100 feet at 50 knots when it experienced a yaw. The commercial pilot executed an autorotation. The helicopter impacted the ground hard. The pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had conducted a preflight of the helicopter that included draining the sumps to check for fuel contamination. He reported he hovered the helicopter to a location where he had the helicopter "hot fueled" out of a service tank that was in the flatbed of a pickup. The pilot remained at the controls while the hot refueling occurred. The pilot did not check for fuel contamination after the helicopter was hot refueled with 8 to 10 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported that he conducted a 12 minute ground run. He reported taking off to relocate the helicopter to the field where agricultural spraying operations were to be conducted. He reported that he flew about 1/2 mile and was about 100 feet above ground level traveling at about 50 knots when the helicopter yawed to the left and the low RPM light illuminated. He reported the engine quit and he entered an autorotation. He reported that he needed to pull some collective to avoid a tree. He reported that he completed the autorotation, but the helicopter was in a high rate of descent with very little blade inertia when he impacted the ground. An inspection of the helicopter revealed that the fuel sump, carburetor, and adjacent fuel lines were contaminated with water. A fuel sample was taken from the bottom of the fuel service tank located on the back of the pickup and it also was contaminated with water.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson R-22
Tail NumberN9071T
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2C · Reciprocating · 124
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 2 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data