NTSB WPR12CA307 — 2012-07-16 · Bountiful, Utah, United States

N47WH has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3, built 2003), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N47WH ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 None

Probable cause & findings

The student’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

While performing simulated power-off autorotations with a power recovery, the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student noted that the main rotor rpm was decaying. About 150 to 200 feet above ground level (agl), the CFI took the flight controls and executed a flare about 50 feet agl, and realized the helicopter was going to settle. The CFI then attempted a run on landing, but the helicopter landed hard, spreading the skid landing gear. The helicopter then slid about 75 feet down the runway, departed the runway surface, and rolled four times before coming to rest on its left side. The CFI stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter. While performing a simulated power-off autorotation with a power recovery, the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student noted that the main rotor rpm was decaying. About 150 to 200 feet above ground level (agl), the instructor took the flight controls, executed a flare about 50 feet agl, and realized that the helicopter was going to settle. The instructor then attempted a run-on landing, but the helicopter landed hard, spreading the skid landing gear and damaging the rotors, frame, engine and transmission. The helicopter then slid about 75 feet down the runway, departed the runway surface, and rolled four times before coming to rest on its left side. The CFI stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-(general)-Pilot - C
C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Prop/rotor parameters-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_WPR12CA307.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type. All research papers

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