Robinson R44 II N46HF

Summary

On 14 September 2016 at about 19:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N46HF, operated by Southern Utah University, was involved in an accident near Cedar City, 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

14 September 2016 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Cedar City, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Cedar City Rgnl (CDC)

Coordinates

37.7008, -113.0989

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N46HF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Southern Utah University

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Parowan → Parowan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA488

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action while providing hover instruction in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in dynamic roll-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor in the skid-equipped helicopter, he was teaching the student to hover over an asphalt helipad. He reported that he transferred the flight controls to the student and directed the student to maintain a stable hover. The nose pitched down, and a right lateral drift occurred. The flight instructor immediately grabbed the flight controls, but the front of the right skid contacted the ground. The main rotor blades then struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom, fuselage, and the main rotor blades. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter that would have prevented normal operation. The meteorological aerodrome report at the airport where the accident occurred reported that the wind was 200° at 9 knots, gusting to 18 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.