Robinson R22 accident near Sandwich, Illinois, May 31, 1993
On May 31, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered N44227, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandwich, Illinois (Woodlake Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FIXED-WING STUDENT PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING TO FLY A ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL IN-FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE TRAINING IN ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sandwich, Illinois · Woodlake Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- N44227 · no longer on the register · serial 0189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FIXED-WING ONLY STUDENT PILOT REPORTED HE WAS RUNNING UP THE ENGINE ON HIS HELICOPTER TO CHECK THE MAGNETOS. HE SAID DURING THE RUN-UP HE FELT A VIBRATION AFTER ENGAGING THE ROTOR BLADES, AND HE DECIDED TO FASTENED HIS SEAT BELT. HE SAID HE LEANED OVER TO CHECK THE MAGNETOS, AND A GUST OF WIND, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A COLLECTIVE THAT CAME OFF THE BOTTOM STOP, ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO LIFTOFF. HE SAID HE PUT THE COLLECTIVE DOWN, AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED. A POLICE OFFICER WHO INTERVIEWED THE STUDENT PILOT SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED THE STUDENT PILOT TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS DOING SOME HOVER PRACTICE WHEN A STRONG WIND GUST CAUGHT THE HELICOPTER AND HE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO FLEW THE HELICOPTER LAST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT SAID SHE HAD SECURED THE FRICTION LOCK ON THE COLLECTIVE AFTER HER FLIGHT. THE COLLECTIVE WAS FOUND IN THE FULL UP POSITION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. A DIAGRAM OF THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATES THE HELICOPTER WAS AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS PRIOR TO IMPACT.
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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,548 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1993; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-82C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from ARR, 10 miles away
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.