Robinson R22 Beta accident near Rockton, Illinois, September 4, 2005
On September 4, 2005 at about 2:59 pm local time, a Robinson R22 Beta (helicopter), registered N61LA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockton, Illinois (Rock County airport). 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 excessive descent rate on approach for landing and the settling with power condition subsequently encountered. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to reduce the descent rate prior to entering the settling with power condition and his failure to execute a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2005 · about 2:59 pm local time
- Place
- Rockton, Illinois · Rock County · 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
- N61LA · no longer on the register · serial 1690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was substantially damaged during a hard landing. The pilot reported that the approach for landing was "steep." He stated that as the aircraft "neared the ground [he] pulled all available power to no avail. It quickly turned to a 'settling with power' situation." Upon contact with the ground the helicopter pivoted about the left skid and came to rest on its side. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 175 hours in all; 164 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,784.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2005; 78.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JVL Janesville WI at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from RFD, 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.
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.