Bell 47G2 accident near Baldwin, Illinois, June 15, 1994
On June 15, 1994 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Bell 47G2 (helicopter), registered N4992G, was destroyed in an accident near Baldwin, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate maintenance (inspection of aircraft) by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Related factors are the unsafetied fuel filter, and low altitude at which the helicopter operated.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1994 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Baldwin, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G2 · all 47G2s on the register
- Registration
- N4992G · no longer on the register · serial 2453
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS WERE EN ROUTE TO THE ST. LOUIS AREA TO RECEIVE DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE HELICOPTER. WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING AT LOW ALTITUDE (ESTIMATED 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND) WHEN ENGINE SPUTTERED, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO A WOODED AREA. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL FILTER BOWL WAS LOOSE, AND THERE WAS NO SAFETY WIRE ON THE FUEL FILTER LOCK SCREW. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE HELICOPTER OR AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. LOGBOOK RECORDS INDICATE THE MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION OCCURRED 8 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER HAD OPERATED ABOUT 10 HOURS AND 84 HOURS, RESPECTIVELY, SINCE THOSE MAINTENANCE ACTIONS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 1993; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDH Carbondale IL at 12:31 pm
- Destination: SUS Chesterfield MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.