Robinson R22 BETA II N993RW

Summary

On 7 June 2005 at about 21:00 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA II registered N993RW was involved in an accident near Wallsburg, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 June 2005 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wallsburg, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Provo (KPVU)

Coordinates

40.2350, -111.2311

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA II

Registration

N993RW

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Provo → Provo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN05CA085

Nobody was injured.

the flight instructor's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making and failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factor's include the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, the student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, the high density altitude, and the muddy terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor, they were practicing confined area approach procedures. During the approach the rpm began to decay and the flight instructor took control of the helicopter and initiated a low rotor rpm recovery. Normal rotor rpm returned, but a significant loss of altitude had occurred so the flight instructor elected to land. After landing the instructor stated that he initiated a vertical climb to "establish power capability" and then descended back down to "start their climb." As a positive climb rate was established, the flight instructor attempted to gain forward speed to help the climb rate. The helicopter began sinking so he maneuvered down to the ground at which time the right skid of the helicopter "sunk into the mud," and the helicopter rolled over, causing substantial damage. The accident site elevation was estimated to be 8,000 feet msl. The calculated density altitude varied between 8,916 feet and 9,732 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.