Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2+ accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin, June 18, 2022
On June 18, 2022 at about 10:10 pm local time, a 2007 Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2+ (helicopter), registered N226SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Waukesha, Wisconsin (Waukeska County Airport). It was an other work-use flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2022 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Waukesha, Wisconsin · Waukeska County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2+, built 2007
- Registration
- N226SA · registry record · serial 0559
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff during an air medical flight, about 150 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot heard a "thump,” and the helicopter pitched up. The pilot immediately executed an emergency landing, and all occupants exited the helicopter uninjured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fenestron blades. Examination of the helicopter at the accident site revealed that the fairing cover was missing from fenestron assembly and was found fragmented about 600 ft in all directions. There was no evidence of a bird strike. The fairing cover fragments that were found showed damage consistent with ingestion into the rotating blades of the fenestron. All attachment hardware for the cover were accounted for and showed no evidence of preaccident failure. The damage to the fenestron housing was consistent with object ingestion. No preaccident failures or malfunctions were found with the fenestron body, fenestron blades, gearbox, or fenestron drive. The helicopter flew about 5.8 hours without incident after the most recent maintenance of the fenestron and no uncorrected maintenance anomalies were found in the maintenance logbooks. The reason for the separation and subsequent ingestion of the fenestron fairing cover into the fenestron blades could not be determined.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,390 hours in all; 663 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 23, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,538 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 17, 2022; 5.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,503 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW206B2 (turboshaft); 6,244 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW206B2 (turboshaft); 5,587 hours total
- Operator: Metro Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: Wauksha WI at 10:09 pm
- Destination: 0W13 Elkhorn WI
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from UES
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA258.