# NTSB WPR22LA157: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N3297Q, Salt Lake City, UT, April 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 16, 2022, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT · Airport
- Coordinates: 40.619556, -111.99288 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6196&lon=-111.9929&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104961
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104961/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104961
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA157

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that, while conducting hover training about five ft above ground level, with the student pilot at the flight control, the helicopter began drifting to the right and the right skid contacted the ground. The helicopter subsequently exceeded the critical roll angle and experienced a dynamic rollover to the right. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3297Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3297Q), registered now, S/N 10178 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 10178
- Airframe hours: 4195.9
- Engines: Lycoming 10-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Utah Helicopter LLC
- Registered owner: Utah Helicopter LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 24, 2022, 19.9 hours before
- Airport: U42, South Valley Regional Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; military, flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,384 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,349.5 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 127.6 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3.6 total, 0.5 in this make and model, 3.6 in the last 90 days, 3.6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observed at: KU42
- METAR: KU42 161935Z AUTO 23006G17KT 180V250 10SM BKN100 17/05 A2977 RMK AO1 T01690045

## 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 20220416005539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220416005539A), Apr 16, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, West Jordan, UT, Substantial damage. The aircraft drifted to the right, the right skid contacted the ground, there was a pivot point, a rolling motion, exceeded the critical angle, had…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104961. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 450 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13717595&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Shane%20Schmutz%206120%20NTSB%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of phone conversation (student pilot) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13717981&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(Student%20Pilot)-Rel.pdf
- Damage photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13718487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo-Rel.pdf

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.

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