- Date
- April 11, 1982, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- St Genevieve, MO
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N87623Bell 47G-4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 11, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820411008639A
- Case key
- 72687
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 pilot reported that about 40 minutes after takeoff, there was a drop in oil pressure followed almost immediately by an engine failure. The engine failure occurred over a wooded area. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a small clearing, but the helicopter struck trees short of the opening. An investigation revealed that the no. 5 connecting rod had failed at the crankshaft end. It was noted that a rod cap bolt had broken, the cap had straightened out, and the rod had separated from the crankshaft. A large hole was found in the crankcase and the oil tank was empty. However, oil was noted inside the engine and on all bearings and journals except the no. 5 connecting rod. Also, all main bearings and all rod bearings and journals, except no. 5, were normal.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N87623
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-4
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3140
- Airframe hours
- 3,140
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- North American Corp
- Registered owner
- North American Corp
- Departed
- Jackson, MO
- Destination
- St Claire, MO
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 540 in this make and model · 6,300 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Temperature
- 158 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.