# Accident 20141202020649A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, North Salt Lake, UT, December 2, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 2, 2014, 13:52 local time
- Place: North Salt Lake, UT
- Airport: Bountiful Skypark
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8578° N, 111.9239° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8578&lon=-111.9239&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3234U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3234U-2017-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total, 200 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15FA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA051) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141202020649A

## Narrative

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

IN FLIGHT BREAK UP OF AIRCRAFT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED HARDWARE DURING TRACK AND BALANCE MAINTENANCE.

## 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 WPR15FA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA051), Dec 2, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N3234U), Bountiful, UT, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot/mechanic's failure to properly secure the pitch link hardware of one main rotor blade to the rotating swash plate, which resulted in the pitch link separating in flight and a subsequent…

## Other reports on N3234U (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20120522008529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120522008529I), May 22, 2012: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N3234U), South Lake Taho, CA, No damage, 1 fatal. The deceased, Mr. Ranieri, robert anthony held a "c" license and a coach rating with jump experience reported in excess of 300 jumps. Mr. Ranieri had no club…

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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