Bell 47G2 accident near Peoria Heights, Illinois, June 22, 1987
On June 22, 1987 at about 5:58 pm local time, a Bell 47G2 (helicopter), registered N15395, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peoria Heights, Illinois. It was an aerial observation 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 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
- June 22, 1987 · about 5:58 pm local time
- Place
- Peoria Heights, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G2 · all 47G2s on the register
- Registration
- N15395 · registry record · serial 2408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
RETURNING FROM A POWERLINE PATROL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SURGED TWICE AND QUIT. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE LANDING SITE, A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD. ON TOUCHDOWN THE BLADES FLEXED AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED LESS THAN TWO QUARTS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,730 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 1987; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fostaire Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 3MY Peoria IL at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from PIA, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.