# Accident 20130708011779A: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Alta, UT, July 8, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 2013, 08:30 local time
- Place: Alta, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5236° N, 111.7053° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5236&lon=-111.7053&mi=10
- Aircraft: N712U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N712U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 855 total, 485 in this make and model, 208 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA315) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130708011779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM HEBER CITY, UTAH (36U) TO SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (SLC) WITH A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) GIVING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION TO A STUDENT PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT ALTITUDES OF APPROXIMATELY 10,000 FEET MSL WHEN THE CFI AND STUDENT PILOT REPORTED LOW ROTOR RPM. DURING ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER ROTOR RPM THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 9750 FEET MSL.

THE CFI STATED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN THE ROTOR RPM DECREASED. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, INCREASING THROTTLE AND LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE. ROTOR RPM WOULD RECOVER FOR A SHORT PERIOD, THEN DECREASE AND THE PILOT INCREASED THROTTLE AND LOWERED COLLECTIVE A TOTAL 3 TIMES. DURING THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING AND THE SKIDS STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT THIS TIME HE HAD 65 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED, THAT HE USED AFT CYCLIC TO DECREASE THE AIRSPEED AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND AND ROLLED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR13LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA315), Jul 8, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N712U), Alta, UT, destroyed. Probable cause: The flight instructor's decision to follow a route over mountainous terrain in conditions that exceeded the helicopter’s ability to maintain terrain clearance.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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