What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 09/16/04 at 1610 a Robinson R-22 (beta), N7533E, s/n 3646, impacted the ground during flight instruction, 180 degree turn autorotation, at Spanish Fork airport ut (U77), aircraft crashed on the south end, rwy 30. 2 occupants onboard, 1 suffered a minor injury (student cut above LH eye). Aircraft sustained major damage, no fire. The PIC, CFI mark fojtek cert #2730931 and student christopher long cert #2808336 had departed provo, UT and was training at Spanish Fork. The student was in process of performing the 180 degree autorotation when at 100 feet, RPM started to drop and warn system activated. Mr. Fojtek took command to try to stop the descent, aircraft began to vibrate and the aircraft continued to drop. The helicopter struck the pavement boom first and skidded sideways, rolling forward onto nose, and fell sideways onto its right side.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 09/16/04 AT 1610 A ROBINSON R-22 (BETA), N7533E, S/N 3646, IMPACTED THE GROUND DURING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION, 180 DEGREE TURN AUTOROTATION, AT SPANISH FORK AIRPORT UT (U77), AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON THE SOUTH END, RWY 30. 2 OCCUPANTS ONBOARD, 1 SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY (STUDENT CUT ABOVE LH EYE). AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE, NO FIRE. THE PIC, CFI MARK FOJTEK CERT #2730931 AND STUDENT CHRISTOPHER LONG CERT #2808336 HAD DEPARTED PROVO, UT AND WAS TRAINING AT SPANISH FORK. THE STUDENT WAS IN PROCESS OF PERFORMING THE 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION WHEN AT 100 FEET, RPM STARTED TO DROP AND WARN SYSTEM ACTIVATED. MR. FOJTEK TOOK COMMAND TO TRY TO STOP THE DESCENT, AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DROP. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE PAVEMENT BOOM FIRST AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS, ROLLING FORWARD ONTO NOSE, AND FELL SIDEWAYS ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.