Robinson R22 Beta accident near Genesee Depot, Wisconsin, May 8, 2004
On May 8, 2004 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N215WW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Genesee Depot, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 proper rotor RPM during the hover landing and his inadequate remedial action, which resulted in the hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2004 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Genesee Depot, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 Beta · all R22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- N215WW · no longer on the register · serial 0930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter landed hard following a loss of rotor rpm during the landing attempt. The pilot stated that during the landing attempt, approximately 20 feet above ground level, the low rotor RPM horn sounded along with the corresponding warning light. The pilot reported the helicopter "settled rapidly" as he lowered the collective and increased the throttle. The pilot stated that the helicopter was too low for a successful recovery and impacted left skid first. The pilot reported "It may have been possible that I delayed throttle governor by initially holding throttle/collective control too tightly." The pilot also stated that the accident could have been prevented by "closer observation of [the] main rotor RPM."
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,184 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 476 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 28, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,276.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 22, 2004; 23 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: Dousman WI at 5:40 pm
- Destination: 57C East Troy WI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:34 pm from C52, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N215WW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.