# Accident 20210811013689A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Prospect Height, IL, August 11, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 11, 2021, 06:40 local time
- Place: Prospect Height, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1143° N, 87.9015° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1143&lon=-87.9015&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4043B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4043B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 159 total, 137 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA369) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210811013689A

## Narrative

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

THE ROTORCRAFT DEPARTED CHICAGO EXECUTIVE (PWK) WITH A DESTINATION OF  MORTON GROVE, IL.

APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH EAST OF PWK, THE ROTORCRAFT BEGAN A CONTROLLED DESCENT DUE TO REPORTED POWER LOSS. AIRCRAFT MADE A TURN IN THE NORTH WEST DIRECTION ALIGNING WITH IL-21/HIGHWAY 45 ROADWAY AND PWK DIRECT NORTH WEST.

THE ROTORCRAFT'S ROTOR IMPACTED A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE.  FOLLOWING IMPACT THE ROTORCRAFTS SKIDS CONTACTED THE ROADWAY AND THE ROTORCRAFT CAME TO A REST POINTING EAST.

THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED DURING IMPACT AND ROTORCRAFT FUSELAGE CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE IMPACTING THE ROADWAY SURFACE. TAIL BOOM WAS IMPACTED BY ROTOR DISC.

NO POST IMPACT FIRE. CONTINUITY OF MAIN ROTOR AND ENGINE CONTROLS WERE VERIFIED.

ON 8/16/2021 INSPECTORS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MEET NTSB INVESTIGATOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AT PWK SECURED SITE FOR N4043B. ROTORCRAFT'S ENGINE MONITORING SYSTEM WAS DOWNLOADED BY NTSB. ENGINE WAS GROUND RUN UP TO IDLE OPERATING SPEED. NO PERFORMANCE ABNORMALITIES NOTED.

## 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 CEN21LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA369), Aug 11, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4043B), Wheeling, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.

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.

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