Robinson R22 BETA 2 N74347

Summary

On 20 March 2007 at about 00:45 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA 2 registered N74347, operated by Suncrest Aviation, was involved in an accident near Taylorsville, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

20 March 2007 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Taylorsville, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Salt Lake #2 (U42)

Coordinates

40.6194, -111.9928

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA 2

Registration

N74347

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Suncrest Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Spanish Fork → Spanish Fork

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07CA080

2 people had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control during the flare/touchdown while practicing an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. A factor which contributed to the accident was the downdraft wind condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor was providing instruction to the private pilot, who was training for a commercial rating. While practicing a 180-degree autorotation, a downdraft was encountered approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl), and the helicopter made a hard landing. The flight instructor stated, "I said that I had [the] controls and proceeded to bring back the power at about 150 feet agl. Everything was good; rotor and engine rpm were in the green. I pulled collective up as I've done in previous situations, but this time it was different. I pulled collective, but it was almost as if the helicopter couldn't fly out of it." No anomalies were reported with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.