Robinson R44 accident near Waukesha, WI
On December 13, 2001, a Robinson R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Waukesha, WI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 13, 2001
- Place
- Waukesha, WI
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.046°N, 88.239°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011219X02422
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 12, 2001, about 1822 central standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N7007F, was destroyed when it impacted power lines and impacted Interstate Highway 43 near Waukesha, Wisconsin. Four motor vehicles were damaged. The helicopter impacted one of the motor vehicles and the remaining three motor vehicles sustained minor damage. The helicopter was piloted by an airline transport pilot. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual to instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was fatally injured, one motor vehicle occupant sustained serious injury, and one motor vehicle occupant sustained minor injury. The positioning flight originated about 1810 from the Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport (MWC), near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was destined for East Troy Municipal Airport, near East Troy, Wisconsin. A witness, who had been a passenger on the flight immediately prior to the accident flight, stated: At approx. 4:40 pm we launched from MWC after taking on fuel. We flew to a tannery fire at 3rd [and] Oregon approx 5 mi. north of MKE [General Mitchell International Airport]. We orbited the fire taking pictures until approx 6 pm. We then returned to MWC. I exited the aircraft at approx. 6:10 pm and the pilot told me he was going back to the East Troy airport to hangar the aircraft. At the time it was dark [and] cloudy with drizzle. The pilot requested to transition through the Waukesha County Airport (UES), near Waukesha, Wisconsin, airspace. The air traffic con
Probable cause
The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and not maintaining altitude/clearance from the static line during cruise flight. Factors were the static wire, the darkness of night, the low ceiling, and the vehicle.
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Browse: Wisconsin · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
