Robinson R44 accident near East Troy, Wisconsin, May 13, 2006
On May 13, 2006 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N442GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Troy, Wisconsin (East Troy Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to calculate the weight and balance of the helicopter prior to flight, his failure to recognize and correct the forward center of gravity condition and his failure to abort the takeoff. A factors was the pilot's improper decision to conduct the flight without seatbelts available for all passengers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2006 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- East Troy, Wisconsin · East Troy Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N442GS · registry record · serial 0683
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was damaged when it struck a pole adjacent to a hangar during takeoff. The helicopter was configured to seat four occupants with four seatbelts. There were five occupants on-board at the time of the accident, and a 2 year, 8 month old child, who was not seat belted, was ejected from the helicopter. Federal Aviation Administration regulations require that all occupants that have reached their second birthday wear a seat belt during takeoff, landing and ground movement of an aircraft. The pilot reported that he started to lift off to a hover and the helicopter "bolted forward." He stated that he attempted to stop the forward movement and at the same time tried to avoid the hangar and the "weather pole" by the hangar. No anomalies were found with regard to the helicopter or its systems. The pilot informed the National Transportation Safety board investigator that he did not calculate the center of gravity, and only calculated the weight prior to flight. Separate center of gravity calculations were performed using passenger weights as understood by the pilot and actual passenger weights obtained during the investigation. The center of gravity was found to be 2.4 inches and 2.9 inches forward of the forward limit respectively by each calculation using these weights. In addition, the takeoff gross weight was found to be 57 pounds over the maximum gross weight limit using the actual passenger weights. The Federal Aviation Administration Rotorcraft Flying Handbook states that a forward center of gravity can be recognized when coming to a hover by a nose low attitude and excessive rearward displacement of the cyclic control to maintain hover. The handbook further states that further flight should not be continued when this condition exists. A video of the accident taken by a witness on the ground does not show a hover prior to forward movement, nor does it show an attempt to abort the takeoff.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,350 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,230 as pilot in command; 780 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,089.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57C East Troy WI at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from BUU, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.