Robinson R-22B accident near East Troy, Wisconsin, January 22, 2000
On January 22, 2000 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Robinson R-22B (helicopter), registered N4047C, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Troy, Wisconsin (East Troy Municipal Arpt airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The proper alignment not being maintained by the dual student during an attempted running takeoff and the inadequate supervision of the pilot-in-command (CFI).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 2000 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- East Troy, Wisconsin · East Troy Municipal Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22B · all R-22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4047C · registry record · serial 1690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the CFI's written statement, they were practicing a running takeoff on runway 18 and after traversing approximately ten feet of the takeoff run the student applied right pedal input. The CFI stated that he tried to overcome the student's right pedal input by depressing the left pedal input and verbally commanding the student to do the same. The CFI reported that he was unable to counteract the students control input and the aircraft yawed to the right. The left skid of the helicopter impacted the terrain, the aircraft rolled onto its left side and slid 15-feet before coming to rest.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,350 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,260 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,624 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 20, 1999; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ww Helicopters, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 57C at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,900 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,300 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from UES, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.