Robinson R22 N5VH

Summary

On 18 August 2015 at about 23:55 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N5VH, operated by Universal Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, 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

18 August 2015 at 23:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Ernest A Love Field (PRC)

Coordinates

34.6536, -112.4194

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N5VH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Universal Helicopters Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Prescott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA233

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's decision to turn the helicopter downwind during a hover taxi which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that while holding short to cross runway 21L in a skid-equipped helicopter, she was issued the clearance "cross 21L." She reported that she assumed that the clearance was for a direct route to her destination on the airport. After the helicopter began to hover taxi direct to the destination, she reported that the ground controller called her and stated "cross 21L at C4, D4 and follow company traffic." The flight instructor reported that to avoid a runway incursion, she "turned the helicopter into a tailwind and considering the high density altitude and strong winds the aircraft did not have enough power and it settled toward the ground, causing one bounce in the sod, the second bounce rolled the helicopter onto its left side." The flight instructor reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.