Summary
The Chicago Helicopter Airways Flight 698 was a scheduled domestic helicopter service between Chicago Midway Airport and Chicago O'Hare Airport.[1] On 27 July 1960 it was operated by a Sikorsky S-58C helicopter which departed Chicago Midway Airport with two pilots and 11 passengers.[1] It crashed at Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois killing all on board.[2]
 A Sikorsky S-58 similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | July 27, 1960 |
| Summary | Rotor failure |
| Site | Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois, Chicago, United States |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Sikorsky S-58C |
| Operator | Chicago Helicopter Airways |
| Registration | N879 |
| Flight origin | Chicago Midway Airport, United States |
| Destination | Chicago O'Hare Airport, United States |
| Occupants | 13 |
| Passengers | 11 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 13 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Accident edit
The helicopter had arrived from Chicago O'Hare Airport at 22:15 CDT. It then departed on the return journey at 22:30 CDT in VFR weather conditions.[1] During the flight, part of one of the main rotor blades broke away and the helicopter descended to attempt an emergency landing. The tail cone and tail rotor broke away and the helicopter spun nose-down into the ground at the Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park and burst into flames.[1]
Investigation edit
The Civil Aeronautics Board determined that N879 crashed as a result of structural disintegration in flight and caused by a fatigue fracture of the main rotor blade.[1]
Aircraft edit
The helicopter was a Sikorsky S-58C built in 1957 and registered in the United States as N879. It was delivered to New York Airways in January 1957 it was later sold to Chicago Helicopter Airways.
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "CAA 429 World Airline Accident Summary with reference to Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report SA-357." United Kingdom CAA Document.
- ^ description for Accident Sikorsky S-58C N879, 27 Jul 1960 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 4 July 2021.
External links edit
- Final accident report - Civil Aeronautics Board