Overview
- A Bell 206 used for a flight lesson repeatedly struck the taxiway at Cedar City Regional Airport after losing control, according to NTSB video and findings.
- Investigators concluded the crash followed the 32-year-old instructor reaching across to adjust the engine governor, which caused the helicopter to move backward, descend, and then strike the ground.
- The NTSB found no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have caused the incident.
- Both the instructor and a 25-year-old student sustained only minor injuries despite severe damage to the helicopter, including separation of the tail and rotor components.
- The agency’s report and video, produced after the May 23 incident, underline risks tied to in-flight cockpit movements during low hover and may prompt flight schools to review training procedures.