# NTSB WPR23LA191: Robinson Helicopter R22, N227WM, Spanish Fork, UT, May 15, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 15, 2023, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT · Open field training area for flight school - Coordinates: 40.07911, -111.86675 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0791&lon=-111.8667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 174533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/174533/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174533 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA191 ## Probable cause The instructor pilot’s improper landing flare during a straight-in autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot performed a straight-in autorotation with a power recovery maneuver to simulate landing the helicopter with a complete power loss. As the instructor demonstrated the autorotation, during the glide, the instructor realized that he was going to overshoot the landing spot, and forced the helicopter out of trim, which enabled the helicopter to increase its decent rate. As the helicopter crossed 100 ft above ground level, the instructor trimmed the helicopter and noted that the helicopter’s airspeed and rotor RPMs were about 50 knots and 95%, respectively. The instructor initiated a flare and the helicopter started to sink. He then rolled the engine throttle UP and raised the collective, but the helicopter landed hard. Subsequently, the main rotor struck the tailboom, which sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N227WM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N227WM), registered now, S/N 4172, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4172 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 4416 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Utah Helicopter - Registered owner: Utah Helicopter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2023, 16 hours before - Departed: KSPK, Spanish Fork, UT - Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 357.3 total, 270.7 in this make and model, 312.2 as pilot in command, 167.6 in the last 90 days, 99.4 in the last 30 days, 7.2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 62.6 total, 62.6 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 18.4 in the last 90 days, 5.8 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 5 nm away - METAR: KPVU 151656Z 28007KT 10SM CLR 18/10 A3036 RMK AO2 SLP249 T01780100 ## 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 20230515006989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230515006989A), May 15, 2023: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. Instructor and student were over a practice area performing simulated engine failures. The student had attempted to land on a predetermined off airport spot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174533. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15552864&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20191_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15552918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%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. --- 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.