History of Flight
On September 21, 2008, at approximately 0538 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration N999ZD, collided with an occupied house and terrain near Kenosha, Wisconsin. The aircraft was destroyed and a post-impact ground fire occurred. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Horseshoe Casino Heliport (2IG3) near Whiting, Indiana, at about 0507, with a destination of Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW). The private pilot and a passenger were fatally injured; the five occupants of the house were uninjured.
The pilot and passenger had been at the casino since the previous evening. The pilot consumed alcoholic beverages: a glass of wine with dinner around 1930, and two Captain Morgan and diet Coke drinks later. The last drink was partially consumed at 0423. The pilot gambled until about 0449 and then departed.
A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper near the Illinois-Wisconsin state line, about six miles south of the accident site, heard a helicopter heading north at a very low altitude, estimated at 500 feet. The trooper did not see the helicopter or its lights due to dense fog; visibility was about 300 to 500 feet.
A witness living near the accident site reported hearing a low-flying helicopter that circled once, left, and returned. The witness saw an orange flash and heard a boom. The helicopter sounded "really low" and the engine seemed at low RPMs.
A resident of the impacted house stated that he and his family were asleep when they heard a loud bang and felt debris. They evacuated with the help of neighbors and were uninjured.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate and a third-class medical certificate issued on April 3, 2006, with no limitations. At that medical, he reported 60 hours total flight time. His logbook indicated a total of 329 hours, including 37.25 hours at night. A certified flight instructor (CFI) who instructed the pilot stated that two previous CFIs had removed the pilot's solo endorsement for flying in violation of solo privileges. The pilot's medical certificate had a solo endorsement with "revoked" written across it.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was a Robinson R44 II, serial number 11108, with a Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 engine. Its last annual inspection was completed on July 10, 2008, at 293 hours total time. The CFI reported that the pilot experienced two previous engine power losses: one in June 2008 and another about ten days before the accident. A mechanic found particulate matter and minor debris in the fuel system after the latter event.
Meteorological Conditions
At 0534, the recorded weather at Kenosha Regional Airport was: wind 360 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 3/4 statute mile, mist, overcast ceiling at 100 feet, temperature 17°C, dew point 16°C, altimeter 30.26 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The main wreckage came to rest about 1.5 miles south of ENW, on a neighbor's lawn across from the impacted house, resting on its left side. A debris path led from the roof of the house, through the central stairs, across the street, to the helicopter. The rear and lower cabin, inner fuel tanks, and transmission were deformed and melted by fire. Sections of main rotor blades remained attached. The tail cone was attached; the tail rotor gearbox had separated. The engine rotated and produced compression; spark plugs were normal. The fuel servo and oil screens were clear. Fuel tanks contained a blue liquid. The low RPM warning light filament was stretched. No pre-impact anomalies were detected.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the 54-year-old pilot listed the cause of death as "multiple injuries due to helicopter crash." Toxicology testing detected ethanol in muscle (31 mg/dL) and kidney (62 mg/dL), and n-propanol in kidney (3 mg/dL).
Fire
A post-impact ground fire occurred at the main wreckage site and was extinguished by the responding fire department.