Robinson R22 N47WH

Summary

On 16 July 2012 at about 18:05 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N47WH, operated by Upper Limit Aviation, was involved in an accident near Bountiful, 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

16 July 2012 at 18:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Bountiful, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Bountiful Skypark (BTF)

Coordinates

40.8692, -111.8936

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N47WH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Upper Limit Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salt Lake City → Bountiful

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA307

Nobody was injured.

The student’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While performing a simulated power-off autorotation with a power recovery, the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student noted that the main rotor rpm was decaying. About 150 to 200 feet above ground level (agl), the instructor took the flight controls, executed a flare about 50 feet agl, and realized that the helicopter was going to settle. The instructor then attempted a run-on landing, but the helicopter landed hard, spreading the skid landing gear and damaging the rotors, frame, engine and transmission. The helicopter then slid about 75 feet down the runway, departed the runway surface, and rolled four times before coming to rest on its left side. The CFI stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.