Incident Overview
On March 10, 2025, about 18:30 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R44 II, registration N128AF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chicago, Illinois. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a sightseeing flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter departed Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ) in Lansing, Illinois, at about 17:45. The pilot reported flying north along the Lake Michigan shoreline for about 25 nautical miles to Navy Pier, then proceeding south back toward IGQ at an altitude of about 1,000 feet above ground level. Approximately 4 nautical miles south of Navy Pier, the pilot stated that the helicopter's clutch light illuminated for about 5 seconds. Shortly thereafter, he detected a smell of burning rubber, and the clutch light came on again. He pulled the clutch circuit breaker and began preparing to land as soon as practical. At that point, the tail section of the helicopter began to vibrate, followed by a loud bang. The pilot performed an autorotation landing to an open area on a golf course.
Post-Accident Inspection
After landing, the pilot and both passengers exited the helicopter uninjured. The pilot inspected the helicopter and discovered that the tail boom was substantially damaged as a result of the autorotation. The helicopter was transported to a secure location for further examination.