Robinson R22 accident near Spanish Fork, Utah, September 14, 2004
On September 14, 2004 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N777UH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spanish Fork, Utah. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the instructor's premature flare, resulting in a hard landing, and his failure to align the helicopter with the direction of travel, resulting in a rollover.Contributing factors were the low rotor RPM and inadequate airspeed. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2004 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Spanish Fork, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N777UH · registry record · serial 3548
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was at 6,000 feet, flying at 70 knots, and exiting a canyon about 5 miles east of the airport. It was on a long final approach to runway 30. After performing pre-landing checks that included warning lights extinguished, rotor and engine tachometers and other pertinent instruments in the green arc, and carburetor heat outside the yellow arc, the instructor "pulled the carb[uretor heat] up a little, and then...pushed the trim in to prepare for landing." Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. The collective control was lowered and the instructor took control of the helicopter. The LOW RPM light illuminated and the warning horn sounded. The instructor noticed the tachometer was "in the green" and manifold pressure (MAP) was in the red (25 inches) arc. He attempted an autorotation into an open field. He flared and the helicopter landed hard "with a slight nose right yaw." The helicopter bounced once, and then rolled over on its right side. The tail boom and tail rotor were severed. The engine was later functionally tested to full power. Nothing was found that would have been causal to the power loss. Temperature and dew point conditions were not conducive to carburetor icing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 167 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 31, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 99 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 30, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 647 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 43U Mt. Pleasant UT at 10:15 pm
- Destination: U77 Spanish Fork UT
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from PVU, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N777UH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.