Robinson R44 II N128AF

Summary

On 10 March 2025 at about 23:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N128AF, operated by Summerskyz Inc, was involved in an accident near Chicago, Illinois, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

10 March 2025 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Lansing Municipal (IGQ)

Coordinates

41.7777, -87.5813

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N128AF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Summerskyz Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lansing → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CEN25LA116

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.