Bell 222B accident near Chicago, Illinois, April 25, 1986
On April 25, 1986 at about 3:06 pm local time, a Bell 222B (helicopter), registered N660DD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chicago, Illinois. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1986 · about 3:06 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 222B · all 222Bs on the register
- Registration
- N660DD · no longer on the register · serial 47132
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST DISCHARGED TWO PASSENGERS ON THE ROOFTOP HELIPAD AND WAS PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PICKED UP TO A HOVER AND THE TAILROTOR STRUCK A HELIPORT SURFACE PERIMETER LIGHT. THE TAILROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED TO THE RIGHT. THROTTLES WERE REDUCED TO STOP THE ROTATION AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK DOWN TO THE HELIPAD. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED SIDE TO SIDE AND ROLLED OFF THE HELIPAD AND CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT EXITED AND EXTINGUISHED A SMALL FIRE THAT HAD STARTED NEAR THE ENGINE EXHAUST.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,978 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 614 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,250 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-750C1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RLA Solon Mills IL at 2:40 pm
- Destination: RLA Chicago IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from MDW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N660DD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.