Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Schaumburg, Illinois, October 14, 2003
On October 14, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N90463, was substantially damaged in an accident near Schaumburg, Illinois (Schaumburg Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The commercial pilot not maintaining directional control of the helicopter and the improper flare initiated before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Schaumburg, Illinois · Schaumburg Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N90463 · no longer on the register · serial 6669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A helicopter experienced a hard landing while practicing an autorotation. A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a commercial rated pilot who was receiving flight instruction were on board. The CFI stated that the commercial pilot entered the maneuver, executed the 180 degree turn and continued the descent until reaching 50 to 60 feet above the ground, where the commercial pilot initiated the flare. The CFI reported that immediately after the flare, the helicopter began to yaw to the left. The CFI stated that he instructed the commercial pilot to correct the yaw and align the helicopter straight with the ground. The CFI reported that he "came on the cyclic" to assure a straight track was achieved. A hard landing was encountered, resulting in the main rotor blades striking the tail rotor drive shaft and tailboom.
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
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 435 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 355 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 4,900 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2003; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06C Schaumburg IL
- Destination: 06C
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from DPA, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N90463 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.