Robinson R44 Raven I, N3264U: Accident occurred December 20, 2020 at Morris Municipal Airport (C09), Grundy County, Illinois

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;  Des Plaines, Illinois 

Tri-B Air LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N3264U

Location: Morris, IL 

Accident Number: CEN21LA095

Date & Time: December 20, 2020, 16:45 Local 

Registration: N3264U

Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44

Injuries: 1 Minor

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: ROBINSON HELICOPTER

Registration: N3264U

Model/Series: R44 Aircraft 

Category: Helicopter

Amateur Built: No

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KC09,584 ft msl

Observation Time: 16:55 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C /0°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 250°

Lowest Ceiling: 

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 29.8 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Departure Point: Morris, IL 

Destination: Morris, IL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 Minor

Latitude, Longitude: 41.42475,-88.418667 

A helicopter was blown onto its side by a gust of wind Sunday afternoon at Morris Municipal Airport in the far southwestern suburb, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed.

At approximately 4:45 p.m., the pilot of a Robinson R44 helicopter was practicing a "touch and go" maneuver on the runway when the rotorcraft blew onto its side.

One person, the pilot, was aboard at the time, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Information about that individual's condition wasn't immediately available.

The incident remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

https://www.nbcchicago.com