# NTSB WPR23LA147: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N7530D, Midway, UT, April 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 8, 2023, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Midway, UT · rural, near a mountain - Coordinates: 40.570703, -111.47659 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5707&lon=-111.4766&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 107030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107030/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107030 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during a pinnacle landing that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent roll over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, he and his student were approaching a ridge line to conduct a practice pinnacle landing. The student pilot stated that as they were over the ridge line, the helicopter was struck by a wind gust, and it yawed to the right. He added left anti-torque pedal to correct the yaw, then the low RPM horn sounded, and the instructor took the flight controls. He lowered the collective and added forward cyclic to move away from terrain, however the helicopter landed hard in the snow and rolled onto its right side. The tail boom was substantially damaged. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7530D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7530D-2024-06-15), registration cancelled 2024-06-15, S/N 3619, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER 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-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3619 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 8819.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Utah State University - Registered owner: Utah State University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2023 - Departed: KOGD, Ogden, UT - Destination: KHCR, Heber City, UT - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 96 total, 96 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 554 total, 421 in this make and model, 436 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KU42, 24 nm away - METAR: METAR KU42 081755Z AUTO 16009KT 10SM CLR 16/M02 A3009 ## 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 20230408015279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230408015279A), Apr 8, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Midway, UT, Substantial damage. Investigation: I was notified of an accident that came to this office through a phone call from the regional operations center (roc) on 04/08/2023. On 04/08/… ## Other investigations on N7530D (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 DEN04CA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA131), Aug 24, 2004: Robinson R22 Beta (N7530D), Logan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the instructor's failure to maintain adequate rotor speed during the landing flare, resulting in a hard landing. Contributing factors include the student's delay in relinquishing the controls and the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107030. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/cfi operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15477969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA147_6120_Hash-Dabney_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/student aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15477979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA147_6120_CWells_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Aircraft damage photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15479053&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA147_photo_508-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. --- 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.