- Date
- April 28, 1992, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bucklin, MO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N90642Bell BH47G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920428017059A
- Case key
- 15438
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The helicopter pilot's abrupt touchdown during the forced landing. Related factors were the presence of carburetor ice conditions, and the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The CFI stated he initiated a climbing right turn just after lift-off. He estimated the helicopter was about 10 to 15 feet above the ground when '...it felt like the helicopter lost power and tried to yaw towards the left....I tried to get it back on the ground as quickly and safely as I could.' He stated he overcompensated for a perceived 'upward pressure' on the collective, and the helicopter impacted the ground abruptly. Weather conditions were conducive for moderate carburetor icing. The student pilot (ground witness to the accident) reported the CFI made a number of adjustments to the carburetor heat during the previous flight. Examination revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90642
- Reported as
- Bell BH47G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1131
- Airframe hours
- 4,946
- Engine
- Franklin 6V4-200-C32, 222 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Central Missouri State Univ.
- Registered owner
- Central Missouri State Univ.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 6, 1991 · 16 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight engineer, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 8 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.