Robinson R22 Beta accident near East Troy, Wisconsin, September 26, 2001
On September 26, 2001 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N214WW, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Troy, Wisconsin (East Troy Muni 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 inadvertent dynamic rollover the student pilot encountered following his excessive control inputs during the takeoff portion of the instructional flight and the instructor not performing the remedial action necessary to reduce the excessive control inputs by the student.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2001 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- East Troy, Wisconsin · East Troy Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N214WW · no longer on the register · serial 2393
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when the helicopter rolled over during a takeoff portion of the instructional flight. The instructor was uninjured and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight instructor stated, "The student and I were practicing vertical takeoffs and landings. We use a two stage TO [take off] and lift off. The student was light on the skids and was attempting to correct for left drift and applied right cyclic with excessive collective. In a matter of 2 sec[onds] helicopter was on its right side. We were practicing at the airport on the airport property. The instructor stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 760 in this make and model; 10,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 12, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,941.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 29, 2001; 77 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 East Troy WI at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from BUU, 7 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.