Tourist helicopter lands on Jackson Park Golf Course after mechanical problem, CFD says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A helicopter with a mechanical problem landed on a South Side golf course Monday night, Chicago Fire Department officials said.

CFD said in a post on X just before 6:30 p.m. that the helicopter landed on Jackson Park Golf Course in the 6200-block of South Richards Drive, near the first hole.

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People were left shocked at the golf course after watching the helicopter lower from the sky, as the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing.

"Looked over, and there's a helicopter on the course," said witness Darryl Hill. "Never seen anything like this."

Witness Millaun Brown said he heard sputtering coming from the helicopter as it was coming down.

"As it was descending, it was sputtering," Brown said. "I could hear the helicopter sputtering as it was descending, as if it was losing power."

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Chicago fire officials said it was a mechanical problem that led to the chopper changing course, performing a "controlled landing" near first hole at Hayes and Richard Drive.

The NTSB said the, "pilot smelled a burning odor, felt a vibration in the tail boom, heard and felt clicking."

"It hit the ground, and it skidded about three times, and the blade almost hit the ground," Brown said. "If he had of tilted it any way, he would've probably crash landed."

That is when, Brown said, he ran over to help.

"I asked them if they were they OK, and they said it was fine. It was three people in the helicopter. It was a couple, male and female, and the driver," Brown said.

CFD crews were checking on the occupants of the helicopter. Police sources said they are expected to be OK.

The helicopter remained at the scene Tuesday morning and golfing at Jackson Park, looks a little different.

"They said we need to start at hole 2 or 3, hole 1 is closed off right now," golfer Terrence McMilon said.

ABC7 learned that the company that owns the aircraft is SummerSkyz, a helicopter tour agency out of Lansing.

The owner of the company had no comment for ABC7 on Monday night.

"They are very fortunate that they weren't killed or seriously injured," Brown said.

The FAA said in a statement, "A Robinson R44 helicopter made an emergency landing on Jackson Park Golf Course in Chicago around 6:20 p.m. local time on Monday, March 10. Three people were on board. The FAA will investigate."

The National Transportation Safety Board is now leading the investigation into the cause of this emergency landing.

The NTSB said in a statement, "NTSB is coordinating with the FAA to investigate an accident involving a Robinson R44 helicopter in Chicago, Illinois on March 10.

The preliminary information indicates that while conducting a tour, the helicopter pilot smelled a burning odor, felt a vibration in the tail boom, heard and felt clicking. The pilot subsequently made an emergency landing on the Jackson Park Golf Course. The tail boom sustained substantial damage.

"During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident.

"The NTSB has no role in the release of the identities of accident victims and/or the extent and number of injuries; that's handled by local authorities. "