# NTSB SEA07CA080: Robinson R22 Beta 2, N74347, Taylorsville, UT, March 20, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 19, 2007, 17:45 local (Mar 20, 2007, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Taylorsville, UT - Coordinates: 40.619445, -111.992774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6194&lon=-111.9928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 65445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65445/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA080 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control during the flare/touchdown while practicing an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. A factor which contributed to the accident was the downdraft wind condition. ## Analysis The certified flight instructor was providing instruction to the private pilot, who was training for a commercial rating. While practicing a 180-degree autorotation, a downdraft was encountered approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl), and the helicopter made a hard landing. The flight instructor stated, "I said that I had [the] controls and proceeded to bring back the power at about 150 feet agl. Everything was good; rotor and engine rpm were in the green. I pulled collective up as I've done in previous situations, but this time it was different. I pulled collective, but it was almost as if the helicopter couldn't fly out of it." No anomalies were reported with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor was providing instruction to the private pilot, who was training for a commercial rating. While practicing a 180-degree autorotation, a downdraft was encountered approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl). The flight instructor stated, "I said that I had [the] controls and proceeded to bring back the power at about 150 feet agl. Everything was good; rotor and engine rpm were in the green. I pulled collective up as I've done in previous situations, but this time it was different. I pulled collective, but it was almost as if the helicopter couldn't fly out of it." The helicopter subsequently landed hard, which resulted in the tail boom being severed and the aircraft coming to rest on its right side. There was no post-accident fire, and no anomalies were reported with the helicopter. ## 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 - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - runway ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74347](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74347), registered now, S/N 3759, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta 2 - 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: 3759 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Suncrest Aviation - Registered owner: Jonathan Heaton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Airport: U42, Salt Lake #2, runway 34, 5,860 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 786 total, 634 in this make and model, 198 in the last 90 days, 93 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 22; private; medical: class 2; flight hours: 102 total, 97 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: U42 ## 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 20070319002739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070319002739A), Mar 19, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was instructing a student on 180 degree autorotations when the approach speed and angle of descent began to increase. He was unable to correct the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.