# NTSB DEN04CA061: Robinson R22, N555UH, Nephi, UT, April 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 14, 2004, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Nephi, UT - Coordinates: 39.738334, -111.871665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7383&lon=-111.8717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59052/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA061 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter resulting in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis The flight instructor said, while practicing 180 degree autorotations, and "at approximately 150 feet agl, [the] descent rate increase[d] dramatically.' The flight instructor stated that he attempted to recover and flare with aft cyclic and down collective. He then added full throttle and raised the collective, in an attempt to land in a "skid level attitude." The helicopter, however, struck the ground hard, collapsing both skids and allowing the main rotor blade to sever the tail boom. The helicopter rotated "three or four times" before coming to rest off of the left side of the runway. An examination of the helicopters systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2004, at approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R22, N555UH, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Nephi, Utah. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The cross-country flight had departed Provo, Utah, at 0800. According to the flight instructor, they were practicing 180 degree autorotations and had just successfully completed one. Prior to the second maneuver, the pre-landing checks were completed and the maneuver was entered at an altitude of 700 feet agl and at an airspeed of 75 knots. The flight instructor stated "at approximately 150 feet agl, [the] decent rate increase[d] dramatically." He said that he attempted to recover and flare with "aft cyclic and down collective" with no effect. He added full throttle and "raised" collective, in attempt to land in a "skid level attitude." During the impact with the ground, both skids collapsed and the main rotor blade severed the tail boom. The helicopter rotated "three or four times" before coming to rest off of the left side of the runway. An examination of the systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555UH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555UH), registered now, S/N 3550, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3550 - Airframe hours: 170 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Universal Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 17, 2004, 64 hours before - Departed: PVU, Provo Municipal, UT - Destination: Nephi, UT - Airport: U14, Nephi Municipal Airport, runway 16, 4,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 534 total, 525 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 196 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 109 total, 25 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040414005429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040414005429A), Apr 14, 2004: Robsin R22, Nephi, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The instructor was demonstrating 180 degree autorotations. On a north heading at Nephi airport at 700 AGL the power was reduced to idle. At 200 AGL the… 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. --- 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.