Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II N3297Q accident near Salt Lake City, Utah

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that, while conducting hover training about five ft above ground level, with the student pilot at the flight control, the helicopter began drifting to the right and the right skid contacted the ground. The helicopter subsequently exceeded the critical roll angle and experienced a dynamic rollover to the right. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR22LA157 for the full record.