# Accident 20230515006989A: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Spanish Fork, UT, May 15, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2023, 11:00 local time
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0791° N, 111.8667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0791&lon=-111.8667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N227WM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N227WM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (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 COMPANY R22
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-J2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 357 total, 270 in this make and model, 153 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230515006989A

## Narrative

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

INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE OVER A PRACTICE AREA PERFORMING SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURES. THE STUDENT HAD ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A PREDETERMINED OFF AIRPORT SPOT TWICE. DURING EACH ATTEMPT THE SPOT WAS OVERSHOT. THE STUDENT REQUESTED THE INSTRUCTOR TO DEMONSTRATE THE MANEUVER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND FROM A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE THE HELICOPTERS TRIM WAS NOT REINTRODUCED IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 KNOTS. AT THE SAME TIME THE RPM GAUGE DECREASED RAPIDLY. THE LOW ROTOR WARNING CAME ON. THE ROTOR RPM'S WERE LOW WITH A LOW AIRSPEED. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SINK VERY RAPIDLY. THE INSTRUCTOR FLARED THE HELICOPTER AND LANDED ON THE AFT SKIDS FIRST. THE HELICOPTER BUCKED FORWARD. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR IN SUCH A MANNER THE TAIL ROTOR DISCONNECTED FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER REMAINED IN AN UPRIGHT CONDITION WITH THE SKIDS PLANTED FIRMLY INTO SOFT DIRT AND MUD.

## 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 WPR23LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA191), May 15, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N227WM), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The instructor pilot’s improper landing flare during a straight-in autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.

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.