# NTSB DEN05LA036: Robinson R22, N333UH, Provo, UT, December 15, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 15, 2004, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Provo, UT - Coordinates: 40.148334, -111.64167 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1483&lon=-111.6417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60725 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60725/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA036 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the water. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inability to detect a descent because of the obscuration between the water and the horizon due to the gray sky ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - descent - not detected, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, he took control of the helicopter and departed in the direction of the lake. He stated that due to the gray sky, it was difficult to discern between the water and the sky. According to the student, however, the instructor lowered the helicopter's nose during the turn. The instructor "leveled the ship and pulled in power." The student stated that the helicopter "lost lift and sank towards the water." The landing skid caught the water and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its skid in approximately 2 feet of water, 250 feet off shore. The main rotor blades were bent and the cabin area was crushed. An examination of the helicopter's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On December 15, 2004, at approximately 0840 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22, N333UH, operated by Universal Helicopters, Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted water during takeoff from Lincoln Beach, located on the southeast shore of Utah Lake, near Provo, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction reported minor injuries. The local flight originated from Provo Municipal Airport, Provo, Utah, at approximately 0800. According to a statement submitted by the flight instructor, they were practicing touch and go landings and had landed on the beach. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and departed in the direction of the lake. He stated that due to the gray sky, it was difficult to discern between the water and the sky. He could "see the water getting closer [and] pulled power and leveled off." The skid touched the water and the helicopter "flipped over." According to the student; however, the instructor lowered the helicopter's nose during the turn. The instructor "leveled the ship and pulled in power." The student stated that the helicopter "lost lift and sank towards the water." The landing skid caught the water and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its skids in approximately 2 feet of water, 250 feet off shore. The main rotor blades were bent and the cabin area was crushed. An examination of the helicopter's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333UH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333UH-2005-04-14), registration cancelled 2005-04-14, S/N 3545, 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: 3545 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Universal Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVU, Provo, UT - Airport: Na ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 25, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 860 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: minor ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.43 inHg - Observed at: PVU ## 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 20041215032149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041215032149A), Dec 15, 2004: Robsin R22, Provo, UT, Destroyed. (-23) On December 15, 2004, a Robinson helicopter, R-22 (N333UH), was on a VFR training flight when the pilot, flight instructor, failed to maintain altitude… 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.