CEN26LA234

NTSB accident investigation · Bell 47G-2 · Troy, MO · June 22, 2026

Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary report
Date
June 22, 2026, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC)
Place
Troy, MO · FAA photo of instrument panel - 20260623_140828292_iOS.jpg
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N65520Bell 47G-2
Defining event
Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Investigation ongoing
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration - St. Louis FSDO
FAA report
20260622010129A
Case key
203244

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Preliminary report

What NTSB knew early in the investigation. It may change in the final report.

On June 22, 2026, about 1840 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2 helicopter, N65520, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Troy, Missouri. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice hovering and traffic patterns at Troy Airpark (02MO), Troy, Missouri. After completing several traffic patterns to runway 26, he switched directions to depart on runway 8. The pilot stated that during the climb after translational lift, 50 to 75 ft above ground level, the helicopter began an uncommanded left roll. The pilot was unable to stop the left roll with a right cyclic input. The helicopter continued to roll left as it descended into trees. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. A couple of individuals immediately responded to the accident site to assist the pilot from the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and tail rotor driveshaft.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Aircraft

Registration
N65520
Reported as
Bell 47G-2
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
2012
Built
1957
Airframe hours
8,531.6
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 15, 2026
Departed
02MO · Troy, MO
Destination
02MO · Troy, MO
Airport
02MO · Troy Airpark, runway 8, 2,100 × 25 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
None

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,800 ft overcast
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
KFYG, 28 nm away
METAR
METAR KFYG 222335Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM OVC038 21/18 A3007 RMK AO2

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N65520 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.