Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Escalante, Utah, July 12, 2015
On July 12, 2015 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2000 Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N441MM, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Escalante, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and his subsequent decision to attempt to climb over rising terrain with the helicopter over maximum gross weight while operating in high-density altitude conditions with a tailwind, which resulted in its inability to maintain a positive climb rate and a subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2015 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Escalante, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA BETA II, built 2000 · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N441MM · registry record · serial 3057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the private pilot, he and his passenger departed a friend's property for the personal flight after refueling. He reported that, as the helicopter was flying up a canyon and climbing in rising mountainous terrain with elevations exceeding 7,500 ft, he noticed a substantial tailwind gust, followed by a decrease in airspeed below effective translational lift. The helicopter stopped climbing, and the pilot immediately made a left turn with the intention of reversing course and turning into the wind. After turning left about 90 degrees, the pilot noticed a change in engine noise, heard the low rotor rpm warning horn, and "dropped the collective" as he continued to try to turn into the wind and regain rotor rpm as the helicopter was about 50 ft above ground level. The pilot was unable to increase the rotor rpm, and the helicopter impacted the rising terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The investigation determined that the helicopter was operating about 30 lbs above its approved maximum gross weight and that the calculated density altitude was about 9,600 ft. It is likely that the pilot did not adequately plan for the flight, which resulted in his taking off with the helicopter over its gross weight and operating in high-density altitude conditions with a tailwind and in the helicopter's subsequent inability to maintain a climb and its impact with rising terrain.
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
What happened, in order
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 583 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,992.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 2014; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 680 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L7 Escalante UT at 6:30 pm
- Destination: KKNB Kanab UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from BCE, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.