Robinson R22 Beta accident near Rochester, Minnesota, April 27, 2004
On April 27, 2004 at about 1:31 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N40725, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rochester, Minnesota (Rochester Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during landing. Contributing factors were the aircraft's low altitude and the pilot's limited flight experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2004 · about 1:31 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester, Minnesota · Rochester Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N40725 · no longer on the register · serial 1830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing on runway 31. The pilot reported that he was conducting a straight-in approach. He recalled that the approach was smooth until he crossed the runway threshold, about 10 feet above ground level, at which point he "felt very slight buffeting." The pilot attributed this to wake turbulence from a business jet which had departed approximately two minutes before he reached the runway. He decided to abort the landing and applied forward cyclic to begin building some airspeed. He reported that "within two seconds the helicopter began to pitch and roll severely." His efforts to stabilized the aircraft were not successful. He decided to land in spite of the unstable condition because he was not sure that he would be able to maintain control. He reported that he lowered the collective and, just prior to contact with the ground, increased collective in an attempt to cushion the impact. The left skid contacted the ground and collapsed. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. A post-accident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no indication of any pre-impact anomalies. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident. Winds at RST, recorded at 0754, were from 260 degrees at 5 knots. At 0854, winds were from 240 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported 28.3 hours total flight time and 3.0 hours of pilot-in-command (solo) flight time.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,465.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 25, 2004; 59.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Rochester MN at 1:10 pm
- Destination: RST Rochester MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 7,533 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from RST
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.