The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois
Location: Red Bud, IL
Accident Number: CEN20LA400
Date & Time: September 19, 2020, 14:00 Local
Registration: N60WD
Aircraft: DEROUSSE Safari
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On September 19, 2020, about 1400 central daylight time, an experimental Safari helicopter, N60WD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Red Bud, Illinois. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Surveillance video footage depicted the helicopter hovering near a storage building; however, the accident sequence itself was not captured. The helicopter appeared to be operating normally at that time.
A witness mowing her lawn across the street observed the helicopter approaching before the accident. She noted the pilot usually proceeded between a bank and the storage building. After completing a mowing pass, she looked toward the storage building and the “tail of the helicopter” appeared to contact the building. The helicopter subsequently came to rest on its left side adjacent to the building and a postimpact fire ensued.
A postrecovery examination of the airframe and engine is planned.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: DEROUSSE
Registration: N60WD
Model/Series: Safari
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
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: SAR,538 ft msl
Observation Time: 14:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C /5°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / , 40°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.29 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Red Bud, IL (PVT)
Destination: Red Bud, IL (PVT )
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.211666,-90.014999 (est)
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
Welda W. DeRousse
November 07, 1945 - September 19, 2020
WELDA W. DEROUSSE, JR., 74, of Red Bud, Illinois, passed away at 2:03 pm, Saturday, September 19, 2020 in Red Bud, Illinois. He was born to the late Welda W. and Ethel (nee Lux) DeRousse, Sr. on November 7, 1945 in Kellogg, Illinois. Welda married Carol Romay on October 16, 1971 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, she survives.
Welda had owned and operated DeRousse Heating and Air from 1976 - 2010 and also owned EZ Self-Storage in Red Bud, Illinois since 1993. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, Illinois, River Road Cruiser’s, Knights of Columbus # 12152 in Red Bud, VFW Post #6632 in Red Bud and American Legion Post #622 in Prairie du Rocher.
Welda was an advocate for Pro-Life. He volunteered at church functions and also at the local hospital and nursing home. He enjoyed flying and had his helicopter and pilot license. He also enjoyed restoring vehicles and he was an inventor. He was a Vietnam Army Veteran.
Survivors:
Wife: Carol DeRousse Red Bud, IL
2 Children: Taryn (Chad) Grohmann Waterloo, IL, Damon (Brandi) DeRousse Red Bud, IL
3 Siblings: Dorothy Campbell Sparta, IL, Marjorie J. Gregory Evansville, IL, Mary (Bruce) Ferguson Highland Ranch, CO
1 Brother-in-law: Terry Romay Prairie du Rocher, IL
1 Sister-in-law: Denise (Jerry) Falk Red Bud, IL
6 Grandchildren: Bayle DeRousse, Lucas, Zachary & Brooke Grohmann and Lane & Weston Brockmeyer
4 Nephews: Brandon (Lindsay) Eggemeyer, Del Hentis, Ronnie Hentis and Jacob Romay
1 Great Niece: Braylin Eggemeyer
Preceded in death by: Parents, 1 Sister – Buelah (Shorty) Hentis, 1 Brother – Ardell DeRousse 2 Brothers-in-law – Johnny Campbell & Robert Gregory, In-laws – Leo & Thelma Romay and Grandparents-in-law – Daniel and Pearl Brown
Private Funeral Mass:
Saturday, September 26, 2020
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Red Bud, Illinois
Officiating:
Msgr. Dennis Schaefer
Interment:
St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery
Red Bud, Illinois
Visitation:
Friday – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday – 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Pechacek Funeral Homes, Red Bud, Illinois
We are limited to 25 people in our building at a time. We ask that everyone wears a mask and please use social distancing guidelines.
Memorials:
Life Network of Waterloo
Masses
St John the Baptist Catholic School in Red Bud
The sole male occupant of the helicopter died.
Firefighters arrived on scene around 2:20 p.m., said firefighter J.R. Hudson. The helicopter crashed into a the E.Z. Self Storage unit at 1290 W. Market St.
The impact damaged one of the storage units, which police cordoned off with yellow tape. There were signs of fire and smoke damage on the heavily dented metal exterior of the building.
Illinois State Police, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash.
