Robinson R22 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, May 31, 2008
On May 31, 2008 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N268SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Air 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 student's improper use of the anti torque pedals during a practice hover autorotation, which resulted in the helicopter rolling over. Additional causes of the accident were the certificated flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the maneuver and delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2008 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N268SH · no longer on the register · serial 4233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot made several approaches and a practice hover autorotation before repositioning the helicopter to a different area of the airport. They planned to perform more hover autorotations and the certified flight instructor (CFI) continued to guard the flight controls. The CFI initiated the hover auto without communication, which was a deviation from their normal procedures. In response to the movement the student depressed the left [improper] anti-torque pedal and the helicopter began to spin. The CFI could not regain control and the helicopter rolled. The CFI reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter
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
- Autorotation Loss of control in flight defining event
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 370 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 120 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Upper Limit Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Destination: U42 Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N268SH 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.