Bell 47D1 accident near Chino, California, September 2, 2003
On September 2, 2003, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N64580, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's inappropriate remedial action through the application of excessive aft cyclic during a run-on landing. A factor in the accident was the student's disregard for company procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2003
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N64580 · no longer on the register · serial TWH-9
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter's main rotor struck the tail boom while the pilot was practicing a run-on landing. While the student pilot was attempting to execute a landing, he touched down on the heels of the skids. The helicopter rocked forward and the pilot pulled back on the cyclic. As a result, the main rotor blades made contact with the tail boom. No mechanical problems were noted with the helicopter. The student pilot had accumulated about 58 hours in helicopters, with 7 as pilot-in-command. The operator reported that students were not permitted to practice run-on landings during solo flight.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,024 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,671 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A&6V335 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KCNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N64580 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.