Robinson R22 N777UH

Summary

On 14 September 2004 at about 22:20 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N777UH was involved in an accident near Spanish Fork, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 September 2004 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Spanish Fork, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.0207, -111.5504

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N777UH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mt. Pleasant → Spanish Fork

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04LA142

1 person had minor injuries.

the instructor's premature flare, resulting in a hard landing, and his failure to align the helicopter with the direction of travel, resulting in a rollover.Contributing factors were the low rotor RPM and inadequate airspeed. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was at 6,000 feet, flying at 70 knots, and exiting a canyon about 5 miles east of the airport. It was on a long final approach to runway 30. After performing pre-landing checks that included warning lights extinguished, rotor and engine tachometers and other pertinent instruments in the green arc, and carburetor heat outside the yellow arc, the instructor "pulled the carb[uretor heat] up a little, and then...pushed the trim in to prepare for landing." Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. The collective control was lowered and the instructor took control of the helicopter. The LOW RPM light illuminated and the warning horn sounded. The instructor noticed the tachometer was "in the green" and manifold pressure (MAP) was in the red (25 inches) arc. He attempted an autorotation into an open field. He flared and the helicopter landed hard "with a slight nose right yaw." The helicopter bounced once, and then rolled over on its right side. The tail boom and tail rotor were severed. The engine was later functionally tested to full power. Nothing was found that would have been causal to the power loss. Temperature and dew point conditions were not conducive to carburetor icing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.