# NTSB SEA06CA072: Robinson R22 Beta, N921U, Tooele, UT, April 8, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 8, 2006, 11:05 local (17:05 UTC) - Place: Tooele, UT - Coordinates: 40.61222, -112.35083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6122&lon=-112.3508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63456/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the ground. A contributing factor was the gusty wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, he and his student had landed at the airport to refuel before continuing their lesson. The wind speed was "17 gusting 24" knots. He restarted the helicopter and hovered to position it for takeoff. He began a climb to the southwest with an indicated airspeed of 45 knots. The instructor said that "upon reaching an altitude of 50-70 feet agl, the aircraft ceased climbing" and "began to be pushed aft and down." He attempted to regain control but was unsuccessful. The helicopter struck the ground in a level attitude, the front of the left skid caught in the soft uneven ground, and the helicopter rolled left. The main rotor blade struck the tail cone, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The pilot indicated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the helicopter prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2006, approximately 1105 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N921U, collided with the ground in an uncontrolled descent following a loss of control during the takeoff initial climb at Bolinder Field - Tooele Valley Airport, Tooele, Utah. The helicopter, which was registered to Tumbleweed Leasing Company, Inc., of Salt Lake City, Utah, and operated by Upper Limit Aviation of Salt Lake City, sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed. The helicopter was departing with an intended destination of Salt Lake City when the accident occurred. According to the flight instructor, he and his student had landed at the airport to refuel before continuing their lesson. The wind speed was "17 gusting 24" knots. He restarted the helicopter and hovered to position the ship for takeoff. He began a climb to the southwest with an indicated airspeed of 45 knots. "Upon reaching an altitude of 50-70 feet agl, the aircraft ceased climbing" and "began to be pushed aft and down." He attempted to regain control but was unsuccessful. The helicopter struck the ground in a level attitude, the front of the left skid caught in the soft uneven ground, and the helicopter rolled left. The main rotor blade struck the tail cone, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The pilot indicated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the helicopter prior to the accident. The following wind conditions were recorded at Salt Lake City International Airport, located approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Tooele: At 0956, wind from 150 degrees at 13 knots. At 1056, wind from 150 degrees at 22 knots with gusts to 26 knots, remark peak wind from 150 degrees at 26 knots at 1055. At 1156, wind from 170 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 22 knots, remark peak wind from 160 degrees at 26 knots at 1118. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N921U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N921U), registered now, S/N 3566, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta - 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: 3566 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Upper Limit Aviation - Registered owner: Tumbleweed Leasing Company Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TVY, Tooele, UT - Destination: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT - Airport: TVY, Bolinder Field - Tooele Valley ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 2,100 total, 1,893 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 304 total, 47 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20060408003729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060408003729A), Apr 8, 2006: Robsin R22BETA, Tooele, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was being used for flight training under part 61. Student pilot also is a private pilot with instrument rating in fixed wing aircraft. Aircraft… 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.