# Accident 20030128002689A: Agusta A109C, West Chicago, IL, January 28, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 28, 2003, 20:50 local time
- Place: West Chicago, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: X34A
- Location: 41.8722° N, 88.2544° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8722&lon=-88.2544&mi=10
- Aircraft: N109MX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N109MX-2008-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Agusta A109C (registry code 0260118, https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-a109c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA A109C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 8 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03FA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030128002689A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED DUPAGE AIRFIELD AFTER REFUELING AND REPORTED TO THE TOWER HE WANTED TO CHECK SOME INSTRUMENTS. AFTER 4 TO 5 MINUTES, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO AN OPEN FIELD WITHOUT COMMUNICATING WITH THE TOWER WHILE STILL IN CLASS D AIRSPACE. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS UNKNOWN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI03FA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA060), Jan 29, 2003: Agusta A109C (N109MX), West Chicago, IL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering, resulting in the excessive descent rate and impact with terrain. Factors to the accident included the dark night, low…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.