# Accident 20190517016609A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Alpine, UT, May 17, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 2019, 10:34 local time
- Place: Alpine, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5025° N, 111.7439° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5025&lon=-111.7439&mi=10
- Aircraft: N744TW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N744TW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 145 total, 39 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190517016609A

## Narrative

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

PILOT TOOK OFF FROM HIS HOME NEAR MYTON, UTAH AROUND 0924 ENROUTE TO SOUTH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT, UTAH (U42).  THE PASSENGER TOOK A VIDEO OF THE FLIGHT AT 1026 (ABOUT 8 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT) WITH THE ALTIMETER SHOWING AN ALTITUDE OF 13,600 FT MSL AND THEM FLYING JUST ABOVE A CLOUD LAYER.  AT APPROXIMATELY 1034 THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES NORTH OF ALPINE, UTAH KILLING BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER.  THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT 7656 FT MSL.

## 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 WPR19FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA148), May 17, 2019: Robinson R44 (N744TW), Alpine, UT, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control. Contributing…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.