# NTSB CEN25LA116: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N128AF, Chicago, IL, March 10, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: March 10, 2025, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Coordinates: 41.7777, -87.5813
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7777&lon=-87.5813&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199828
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA116
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199828/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA116

## Preliminary report

On March 10, 2025, about 18:30 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N128AF was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chicago, Illinois. The pilot and both passengers were not injured. The helicopter was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight. The helicopter departed Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ), Lansing, Illinois about 17:45. The pilot stated that they flew north, about 25 nm, along the Lake Michigan shoreline to Navy Pier, and then proceeded south back towards IGQ at an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level. About 4 nm south of Navy Pier, the pilot reported that the helicopter clutch light came on but only for about 5 seconds. Shortly after, the pilot said he could smell burning rubber and then the clutch light illuminated again. He pulled the clutch circuit breaker and was preparing to land as soon as practical when the tail section of the helicopter began to vibrate and then he heard a loud bang. The pilot autorotated the helicopter to an open area on a golf course. The pilot and both passengers exited the helicopter uninjured. After landing, the pilot inspected the helicopter and discovered that the tail boom was substantially damaged because of the autorotation. The helicopter was transported to a secure location for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N128AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N128AF), registered now, S/N 11475, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640123) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 11475
- Year built: 2006
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Summerskyz Inc
- Registered owner: Summerskyz Inc
- Departed: IGQ, Lansing, IL
- Airport: IGQ, Lansing Municipal

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 210° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.61 inHg
- Observed at: KORD, 19 nm away
- METAR: KORD 102351Z 21011G19KT 10SM BKN250 18/00 A2961

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.

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