Robinson R22B accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, January 14, 2003
On January 14, 2003 at about 11:33 pm local time, a Robinson R22B (helicopter), registered N530DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The directional control not maintained by the unrated helicopter pilot, and the remedial action not performed by the pilot-in-command. The pilot-in-command's lack of certification as a certified flight instructor and the dark night conditions were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2003 · about 11:33 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N530DB · no longer on the register · serial 1650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructional helicopter flight impacted terrain during a hover taxi while being piloted by a non-rated helicopter pilot seeking to accumulate flight time towards a helicopter rating. Dark night conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A rated helicopter pilot who did not hold certified flight instructor certificate was seated in the left pilot seat. The non-rated pilot began a right turn to taxi to a taxiway when the turn rate began to accelerate rapidly. The rated pilot attempted to regain control of the helicopter by applying a left pedal control input before the helicopter impacted 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 984 hours in all; 304 in this make and model; 868 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 9, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 20, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBM Sheboygan WI at 11:00 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point -6°F (-21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 11:23 pm from OSH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.