Accident Overview
On July 13, 2024, at approximately 1035 mountain daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R-44 II, registration N6960, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Herriman, Utah. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 instructional flight. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured.
Flight Sequence
According to the flight instructor, he and his student departed from a nearby airport to perform simulated engine out autorotation maneuvers at a practice area a few miles to the southwest. While en route to the practice area, the instructor discussed the maneuver before the student pilot took control of the helicopter and entered a simulated autorotation. With the student on the controls, the instructor lowered the collective, applied aft cyclic, right pedal, and rolled off the throttle to idle.
As the instructor scanned the instrument gauges, he observed that the engine oil warning light, auxiliary fuel pump caution light, and alternator caution light were illuminated. The instructor then rolled the throttle control to increase engine power and realized the engine had lost power. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and initiated a landing to an open area.
Landing and Damage
The flight instructor stated that as the helicopter settled to the ground, it touched down hard with minimal forward airspeed in a skids level attitude before coming to an abrupt stop. Subsequently, the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, and the tail rotor assembly separated. The helicopter was recovered to a secure location for further examination.