Robinson Helicopter Company R22 accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, June 4, 2017
On June 4, 2017 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1981 Robinson Helicopter Company R22, registered N601HA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of helicopter control during landing to a dolly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2017 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · Kenosha Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R22, built 1981
- Registration
- N601HA · no longer on the register · serial 0107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a local flight, the commercial pilot was attempting to land the helicopter on a wooden dolly. Witnesses observed the helicopter near the ground, then it quickly climbed to 25 ft above ground level. While airborne, the helicopter wobbled and appeared unstable, then descended and impacted the ramp on its right side. Witnesses also reported that a piece of the helicopter separated during the accident sequence, which likely occurred when a tail rotor blade struck the ground. Impact marks from the tail rotor blades were found in the pavement near the main wreckage. The damage to the outboard edge of the tail rotor blade tip indicated that the helicopter was mostly upright when the blade tip contacted the ground and separated. A postaccident examination of the accident site and wreckage revealed yellow paint transfer from the wooden landing dolly on the front right side of the helicopter. The dolly was found about 50 ft from the helicopter on the ramp. Examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident engine test run was performed with no anomalies noted. It is likely that, while attempting to land on the dolly, the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which descended and impacted the landing dolly and the ground.
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 control in flight during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 770.7 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 27, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,856 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 2,742 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENW Kenosha WI
- Destination: ENW Kenosha WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 9:42 pm from KENW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on April 25, 2018. 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 | Pilot Logbook | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence - Witness | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.