# Accident 20230408015279A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Midway, UT, April 8, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2023, 12:00 local time
- Place: Midway, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: GO3S
- Location: 40.5707° N, 111.4766° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5707&lon=-111.4766&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7530D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7530D-2024-06-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (registry code 42314, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-J2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 554 total, 421 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230408015279A

## Narrative

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

INVESTIGATION: I WAS NOTIFIED OF AN ACCIDENT THAT CAME TO THIS OFFICE THROUGH A PHONE CALL FROM THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC) ON 04/08/2023. ON 04/08/ 2023, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT OF A ROBINSON R-22 BETA 2 HELICOPTER WAS FLYING ON A PART 141 TRAINING FLIGHT WITH A STUDENT FROM THE OGDEN, UTAH AIRPORT (KOGD) TO THE HEBER CITY AIRPORT (KHCR). WHILE FLYING TO THE HEBER CITY AIRPORT, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SPOTTED A RIDGELINE THAT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD SPOT TO PRACTICE PINNACLE LANDINGS FOR TRAINING WITH HIS COMMERCIAL STUDENT PILOT. THE RIDGELINE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 9,000 FEET MSL. THE STUDENT WAS ON THE CONTROLS AND BEGAN TO ORBIT THE PINNACLE LANDING AREA TO DETERMINE HAZARDS, WIND DIRECTION AND SUITABILITY FOR LANDING AT THE LOCATION. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE LANDING IT APPEARED THAT THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND COMING FROM THE DIRECTION OF NORTH. THE STUDENT BEGAN AN APPROACH TO THE NORTH TO MAKE A LANDING ON THE PINNACLE. WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THE LANDING SITE, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE A RAPID, UN-COMMANDED RIGHT YAW INDICATIVE OF LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE). THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT BOTH HE AND THE STUDENT SIMULTANEOUSLY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND PUSHED FORWARD CYCLIC TO GAIN FORWARD AIRSPEED TO FLY AWAY FROM THE PINNACLE. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT IN THEIR EFFORT TO GAIN FORWARD AIRSPEED, THE LOW ROTOR RPM AUDIO WARNING WENT OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO GAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR APPLIED FULL COLLECTIVE AS THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE SNOW-CAPPED PINNACLE WITH FORWARD MOTION. THE AIRCRAFT SLID FORWARD AND ROLLED RIGHT WHERE THE MAIN ROTOR IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. BOTH PILOTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNHARMED. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE AND THE STUDENT CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE RIDGELINE WHERE THEY BOTH NOTICED GUSTS OF WIND FROM THE WEST WHICH WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THEIR APPROACH TO THE PINNACLE.

## 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 WPR23LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA147), Apr 8, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N7530D), Midway, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during a pinnacle landing that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.

## Other reports on N7530D (1)

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

- [Accident 20040824018189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040824018189A), Aug 24, 2004: Robsin R22BETA (N7530D), Logan, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructor was training student pilot in straight in autorotations with power recovery. Maneuver was entered at 850 feet AGL and 70 KIAS. Glide appeared…

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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