DESTIN — The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that a stuck engine valve contributed to the forced landing of a tour helicopter last May 19.
No one was injured, but the helicopter was substantially damaged when it landed in a sand pit behind the Days Inn in Destin.
According to a report scheduled to be approved by the board in May, an inspector who examined the Robinson R44 Raven helicopter found a “build-up of oil carbon deposits” around one of the exhaust valves.
Read a copy of the NTSB report. >>
The inspector also noted that “air tour operations seem to be prone” to that type of build-up because of “quick multiple shutdowns.”
He added that the tour company, Timberview Helicopters, has since established a post-flight cool-down procedure to help prevent further problems.
The sightseeing flight took off from Destin Airport and was about 200 feet off the ground when the pilot noticed that the engine needle had “spiked” and remained at the top of the gauge, the report said.
She tried to return to the airport but realized she was losing altitude too rapidly to make it back.
The helicopter made a hard landing, breaking off the tail boom.
The pilot and two passengers had gotten out of the helicopter before rescue crews arrived.
Contact Daily News Assignment Editor Wendy Victora at 850-315-4478 or wvictora@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @WendyVnwfdn.