Bell 230 incident near Wilmington, Illinois, August 20, 2003
On August 20, 2003, a Bell 230 (helicopter), registered N880SF, suffered minor damage in an incident near Wilmington, Illinois. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The material defect during the manufacture of the tail rotor counterweight bellcrank and the bellcrank's subsequent failure due to a fatigue fracture.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2003
- Place
- Wilmington, Illinois · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 230 · all 230s on the register
- Registration
- N880SF · registry record · serial 23024
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a repositioning flight, the medical transportation helicopter executed a precautionary landing to a vacant parking lot after experiencing an in-flight vibration during cruise flight. The pilot stated that the flight time with the vibration was less than 90 seconds. An inspection of the helicopter revealed that the tail rotor counterweight bellcrank (p/n 222-012-727-003) used to hold counterweights had fractured in two pieces. A metallurgical examination of the bellcrank indicated that the bellcrank fractured as a result of a fatigue crack propagating from a casting discontinuity formed during manufacture. Three other occurrences of the same part number were found. The manufacturer issued an information letter to all owners and operators of Bell 222/230/430 helicopters advising them of the occurrences.
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: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,487 hours in all; 305 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 28, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,570 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 31, 2003; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Allison C-30 G/2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Allison C-30 G/2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYY Gary IN at 11:58 pm
- Destination: LL37 Peoria IL
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:02 am from IKK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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 N880SF 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.