# NTSB DEN05LA042: Robinson R22, N993RW, Park City, UT, December 19, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 19, 2004, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Park City, UT - Coordinates: 40.665, -111.41333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6650&lon=-111.4133&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 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60756 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60756/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA042 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and the instructor's inadequate supervision by her failure to assure adequate rotor rpm was maintained. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Hard landing, hover - in ground effect - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the student was setting up an approach near the reservoir. The approach angle was too steep, so the student discontinued the approach. The instructor stated that during the second approach, approximately 20 feet above the ground, the helicopter began to yaw to the right. She stated that she took control of the helicopter as it yawed approximately 180 degrees around. She established a stabilized hover and at this time, the "low rotor horn and light came on." The instructor stated that she "lowered the collective and rolled on the throttle to try and get the horn off and the rpms back up." She stated that the rpm never dropped below 95 percent. Subsequently, the helicopter "dropped straight down and hit the ground level" causing substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On December 19, 2004, at approximately 1620 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22, N993RW, operated by Silverstate Helicopters, was substantially damaged when it landed hard near Jordanelle Reservoir, Park City, 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 student pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Provo, Utah, at approximately 1520. According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor, the student was attempting a landing approach near the Jordanelle Reservoir. The approach angle was too steep, so the student discontinued the approach. During the second approach attempt, the student descended approximately 300 feet per minute and airspeed slowed from 60 knots to 20 knots. The instructor stated that 20 feet above the ground, the helicopter began to yaw to the right. She stated that she took control of the helicopter as it yawed approximately 180 degrees around. She established a stabilized hover and at this time, the "low rotor horn and light came on." The instructor stated that she "lowered the collective and rolled on the throttle to try and get the horn off and the rpms back up." She stated that the rpm never dropped below 95 percent. Subsequently, the helicopter "dropped straight down and hit the ground level." The tail boom was wrinkled and fractured and both skids were bent. An examination of the helicopter's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N993RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N993RW-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 3507, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3507 - Airframe hours: 1192 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silverstate Helicopters - Registered owner: 3 Romeo Whiskey LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 2004, 84 hours before - Departed: PVU, Provo, UT - Airport: Na ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 14, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 255 total, 255 in this make and model, 138 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 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 20041219032209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041219032209A), Dec 19, 2004: Robsin R22BETA, Park City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 19, 2004, a Robinson helicopter (R-22), N993RW, was on a VFR training flight. The pilot and instructor attempted to land at an off airport… ## Other investigations on N993RW (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 DEN05CA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA085), Jun 7, 2005: Robinson R22 Beta II (N993RW), Wallsburg, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight instructor's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making and failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factor's include the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of 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.