Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Cedar City, Utah, September 30, 2022
On September 30, 2022 at about 7:10 pm local time, a 2017 Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N297SU, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Cedar City, Utah. 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
A partial loss of engine power due to a damaged cylinder intake valve and subsequent collision with terrain during an autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2022 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44 Cadet, built 2017 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N297SU · no longer on the register · serial 30017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student had just completed a series of uneventful practice maneuvers and decided to perform off-airport landings at a location that the instructor had used before. After a series of reconnaissance orbits, low passes, and power checks over the landing area and, with the helicopter operating normally, the instructor decided to proceed with a landing. The student was maneuvering at low altitude while attempting to land when they felt a jolt, and the helicopter yawed to the left. The instructor took over the controls, and attempted to maneuver away from trees but the helicopter began to vibrate and yawed aggressively to the left with an accompanying reduction in engine speed. The helicopter began to descend with the low rotor rpm horn sounding, and the instructor performed an autorotation, during which the main rotor blade cut through the tail. Postaccident examination revealed a damaged engine intake valve that would have resulted in a partial loss of engine power. The helicopter’s response during the event was consistent with a loss of engine power, although due to the altitude and environmental conditions, the helicopter was being operated at the upper limits of its performance envelope.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during landing
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during landing defining event
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 46 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 980 hours in all; 960 in this make and model; 162 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 920 as pilot in command; 756 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 23, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,746 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 19, 2022; 90.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDC Cedar City UT at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KCDC, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCDC 301853Z AUTO 13008KT 10SM SCT060 BKN080 BKN090 18/12 A3009 RMK AO2 RAE43 SLP133 P0000 T01830122=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 11, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | CFI - Statement | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Student Pilot - Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspection | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum for Record A�� Light Helicopter Depot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.