N128AFRobinson Helicopter R44 II · 2006

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.

On May 27, 2010, about 2010 central daylight time, a North American T-28A airplane, N128AF, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing at Sundance Airpark (HSD), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and the certified flight instructor were not injured. The local, personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The pilots stated they were flying in the traffic pattern when the engine started losing power. They were unable to make the runway and landed short of the prepared surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the main landing gear had punctured both wings, damaging the spars, and two engine mounts had pulled loose from the firewall. Fuel was found in both wings and the fuel selector was in the BOTH position. Metal material was found in the outer casing of the oil filter. According to one of the airplane’s owners, the engine was later disassembled for salvage and the master rod bearing was found failed and several of the cylinders had seized.

According to maintenance records, the engine’s last major overhaul occurred on August 15, 1989. The last annual inspection occurred on December 5, 2009, at 77.7 hours time since major overhaul. According to the operator of the airplane, it had accumulated 99.9 hours time since major overhaul at the time of the accident.