# NTSB WPR25LA203: Robinson Helicopter R44, N715SG, Park City, UT, July 6, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2025, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Park City, UT · Between Park city and Midway, UT
- Coordinates: 40.58, -111.52
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5800&lon=-111.5200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- 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): 200486
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200486/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200486
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA203

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during an approach to landing in a mountainous area, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Main rotor system: main rotor blade system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of a helicopter reported that, after performing a series of reconnaissance passes, followed by an out of ground effect hover power check, he decided to fly an approach to a mountain meadow. During the approach to landing, the pilot slowed the descent rate and realized the rotor rpm had decayed rapidly. The pilot lowered the collective and applied forward cyclic to increase airspeed to regain rotor rpm but was unable to recover. He then lowered the collective to enter an autorotation. Upon touchdown, the tail skid struck the ground, the helicopter pitched forward, and the main rotor impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N715SG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N715SG), registered now, S/N 1261, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1261
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 1083.2
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540F1 SERIE 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Silver Sky Helicopters LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KSVR, West Jordan, UT
- Airport: NA
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 2,003 total, 230 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 16,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KHCR, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KHCR 031955Z AUTO 24013KT 10SM FEW120 BKN160 27/06 A3005 RMK AO2 T02750062 $=

## 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 20250706020269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250706020269A), Jul 6, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44, Heber City, UT, Substantial damage. This flight was conducted under part 91 with two family members on board. The aircraft departed from the south valley regional airport, ksvr with all four…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200486. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18994411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_NTSB_N715SG%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19000625&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20pic%20array%20WPR25LA203-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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