# NTSB DEN05LA061: Robinson Helicopter R22, N780SH, Spanish Fork, UT, February 22, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 2005, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.141666, -111.618614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1417&lon=-111.6186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 61127 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61127/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA061 ## Probable cause the student's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Contributing factors were high airspeed, high rate of descent, the instructor's delay in taking remedial action, and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - autorotation - simulated, dual student - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - airspeed - high (contributing factor) - descent - excessive (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The flight instructor and private certificated student pilot had been practicing simulated autorotation maneuvers from an altitude of 800 feet agl. They set up for the third simulated autorotation from an altitude of 700 feet agl, and the instructor advised the student to tighten the turn to compensate for the lower altitude. Approximately 90 degrees into the turn, the instructor noticed that the airspeed was high. The student began the landing flare and the helicopter began to shutter. At that point, the instructor assumed control, but could not arrest the descent rate, nor decrease the airspeed. The instructor applied forward cyclic and the helicopter contacted the runway and bounced approximately 10 feet into the air. The helicopter sustained substantial damage as a result of ground impact. ## Factual narrative On February 22, 2005, approximately 0840 mountain standard time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R22, N780SH, operated by Silver State Helicopters, Inc. was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Spanish Fork-Springville Airport (U77), Spanish Fork, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and his student reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 0730. According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor, he and his private certificated student were practicing 180 degree simulated autorotation maneuvers at U77. The first two maneuvers were performed on runway 12 at 800 feet agl, airspeed 70 knots. As they set up the helicopter for the third simulated autorotation, the instructor noted that the altitude was 700 feet agl and he explained to the student that he "would have to turn it a little bit tighter due to the 100' less of altitude." In the last 90 degrees of turn, the student "allowed the nose to drop and the airspeed increased to 80 knots." The student flared for landing and the "helicopter began to cavitate." The instructor assumed control, trying to dissipate airspeed and decrease the high rate of descent that had developed. As the instructor continued the flare, the helicopter shutter increased and rate of sink continued. The instructor applied forward cyclic and the helicopter contacted the runway and bounced approximately 10 feet into the air. The instructor then hovered the helicopter to a safe location where the engine could be shut down. The tail boom was bent down during the impact, wrinkling the bottom portion of the number 2 bay. Both skid cross tubes were bent up towards the fuselage and aft. A post-accident examination of the helicopter systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N780SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N780SH-2008-08-07), registration cancelled 2008-08-07, S/N 3612, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson Helicopter Company R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3612 - Airframe hours: 1197.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silver State Helicopters, doing business as Silver State Helicopters - Registered owner: H & J Equipment LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVU, Provo, UT - Destination: PVU, Provo, UT - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: U77, Spanish Fork-Springville, runway 12, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 15, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,240 total, 1,171 in this make and model, 971 as pilot in command, 308 in the last 90 days, 97 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 21, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 81 total, 81 in this make and model, 35 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 5 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 20050222002189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050222002189A), Feb 22, 2005: Robsin R22, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On 02-22-05 @ 0840 MDT, CFI [privacy data omitted] was training student [privacy data omitted] concerning autorotations in N780SH, a Robinson R22. 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.