# NTSB WPR26LA199: Bell 206-L4, N917SU, Cedar City, UT, May 23, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 23, 2026, 07:21 local (13:21 UTC)
- Place: Cedar City, UT · On airfield ramp
- Coordinates: 37.70097, -113.09885
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7010&lon=-113.0988&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 3, 2026
- 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): 203051
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203051/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA199

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control while manipulating the engine governor reference rpm adjustment during hover operations, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with the ground.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182110), [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.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Bell 206-L4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=1182110), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor, who was flying from the left seat, reported that during the initial hover, the helicopter’s engine governor reference rpm indicated about 104%. To adjust the governor reference rpm, the instructor reached across to the right-seat collective-mounted governor INCR/DECR switch. As he contacted the switch, the instructor failed to maintain helicopter control, and the helicopter pitched nose up, moved aft, and descended. The flight crew reported that the helicopter contacted the ground, bounced, and began to spin out of control. Airport surveillance video showed the helicopter moving aft while descending before contacting the taxiway. The helicopter subsequently became airborne, rotated to the right, and impacted the ground. During the impact sequence, the tailboom and main rotor system separated from the helicopter. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N917SU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N917SU), registered now, S/N 52127 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206-L4
- Registry model: [Bell 206-L4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206-l4) (registry code 1182110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 52527
- Year built: 1994
- Airframe hours: 15484.9
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C30P 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Southern Utah University
- Registered owner: Southern Utah University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 12, 2026, 47 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: CDC, Cedar City Regional
- Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,424 total, 219 in this make and model, 1,347 as pilot in command, 196 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 222 total, 12 in this make and model, 156 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: CDC
- METAR: METAR KCDC 231253Z AUTO 05004KT 10SM CLR 10/01 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP117 T01000011=

## 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 20260523009559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260523009559A), May 23, 2026: Bell 206-L4, Cedar City, UT, Destroyed. A helicopter pilot instructor (who was sitting in the right seat) and student flying a Bell 206L-4, with registration number [privacy data omitted], were…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203051. 26.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20491132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA199%206120.1%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20492451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Video file (item 3, MP4, 21.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20797393&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=N917SU_Accident-Rel.mp4
- Pilot's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20732049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA199%20Memorandum%20of%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20the%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's receiving instruction statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20629294&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20recieving%20instruction%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20628939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA199%20Memorandum%20of%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20Redacted-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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