Bell 47G-3B-1 accident near Marshall, Indiana, August 21, 1992
On August 21, 1992 at about 10:31 pm local time, a Bell 47G-3B-1 (helicopter), registered N203SD, was destroyed in an accident near Marshall, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DUE TO HIS ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1992 · about 10:31 pm local time
- Place
- Marshall, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-3B-1 · all 47G-3B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N203SD · registry record · serial 3513
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING HOW HE USED THE HELICOPTER TO POLLINATE CORN; THE DEMONSTRATION WAS CONDUCTED ABOUT 25 FT AGL OVER A CROP FIELD. AT THE END OF THE FIELD THE PILOT PULLED THE HELICOPTER UP SHARPLY AT A STEEP ANGLE AND TURNED LEFT. THE HELICOPTER INSTANTLY IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT'S EMERGENCY TOXICOLOGY SCREEN SHOWED A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 215 MG/DL, AND A POSITIVE DETECTION OF CANNABINOID IN HIS URINE.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 483 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 410 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-D1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Rainbow Plastics, INC.
The flight
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:40 pm from HUF, 27 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.