Robinson R44 II N3297Q

Summary

On 16 April 2022 at about 19:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N3297Q, operated by Utah Helicopter LLC, was involved in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. 3 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 April 2022 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

South Valley Regional Airport (U42)

Coordinates

40.6196, -111.9929

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N3297Q

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Utah Helicopter LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA157

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that, while conducting hover training about five ft above ground level, with the student pilot at the flight control, the helicopter began drifting to the right and the right skid contacted the ground. The helicopter subsequently exceeded the critical roll angle and experienced a dynamic rollover to the right. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.