# NTSB CHI87DEE09: Robertson B1-RD, N44870, Kankakee/Elks, IL, August 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1987, 20:19 local (Aug 6, 1987, 01:19 UTC)
- Place: Kankakee/Elks, IL
- Coordinates: 41.110588, -87.860939 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1106&lon=-87.8609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13558
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87DEE09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13558/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87DEE09

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - proper climb rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND CRASHED. A SKETCHED DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE REVEALED ONLY 60 YARDS BETWEEN THE STARTING POINT OF THE TAKEOFF AND THE TREE. IN SPITE OF THIS, THE PLT STATED THAT HE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FT ABOVE THE TREE AND STARTED A TURN TO THE RIGHT. WHEN HE TRIED TO ROLL OUT OF THE TURN, ACCORDING TO THIS STATEMENT, THE ACFT CONTINUED TO TURN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN CONTINUED EFFORTS TO RECOVER FAILED HE REDUCED POWER TO IDLE AND TRIED TO HIT THE ENGINE 'KILL' SWITCH BEFORE IMPACT. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES OF THE ACFT. ACCORDING TO ONE EYEWITNES STATEMENT THE ACFT WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND APPEARED TO HAVE STALLED DURING THE CLIMBOUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44870](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44870-2000-08-15), registration cancelled 2000-08-15, S/N 095 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBERTSON B1-RD
- Registry model: [Russell Joseph K B1-RD](https://openairdocs.org/model/russell-joseph-k-b1-rd) (registry code 056137V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 095
- Airframe hours: 86
- Engines: Cuyuna 430-R 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gerald Anderson
- Registered owner: Joseph Russell
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 1986, 36 hours before
- Destination: IKK, KANKAKEE, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 274 total, 6 in this make and model, 232 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IKK, 5 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870805043199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870805043199A), Aug 5, 1987: Amtrrb B1RD, Kankakee, IL, Substantial damage. Stalled and spun into trees on climbout at a steep angle of attack. Takeoff made on a golf fairway.

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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