Robinson R22 Beta II accident near Wallsburg, Utah, June 7, 2005
On June 7, 2005 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta II (helicopter), registered N993RW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wallsburg, Utah (Provo airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making and failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factor's include the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, the student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, the high density altitude, and the muddy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2005 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wallsburg, Utah · Provo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta II · all R22 Beta IIs on the register
- Registration
- N993RW · no longer on the register · serial 3507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, they were practicing confined area approach procedures. During the approach the rpm began to decay and the flight instructor took control of the helicopter and initiated a low rotor rpm recovery. Normal rotor rpm returned, but a significant loss of altitude had occurred so the flight instructor elected to land. After landing the instructor stated that he initiated a vertical climb to "establish power capability" and then descended back down to "start their climb." As a positive climb rate was established, the flight instructor attempted to gain forward speed to help the climb rate. The helicopter began sinking so he maneuvered down to the ground at which time the right skid of the helicopter "sunk into the mud," and the helicopter rolled over, causing substantial damage. The accident site elevation was estimated to be 8,000 feet msl. The calculated density altitude varied between 8,916 feet and 9,732 feet.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,301 hours in all; 1,258 in this make and model; 252 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 1,228 as pilot in command; 1,062 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 186 hours in all; 176 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 128 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,550.6 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 1, 2005; 36 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: PVU Provo UT at 8:30 pm
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from PVU, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N993RW 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.