Plane Crash List

Bell 47G N61SD

11 August 1991 · Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 11 August 1991 at about 01:05 local time, a Bell 47G registered N61SD, operated by Central Wisconsin Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 01:05
Classification
Accident
Location
Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States
Coordinates
38.1798, -92.6191
Aircraft
Bell 47G
Registration
N61SD
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Central Wisconsin Helicopters
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Bagnell Dam → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI91LA257

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE ROTORCRAFT'S TAIL BOOM IN FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE REDUCED AIRCRAFT CONTROL AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF HE HEARD A LOUD SNAP, FOLLOWED BY AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW. AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION WAS EXECUTED WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD WATER LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CHROMEMOLY TUBING HAD FAILED IN FRONT OF THE TAIL ROTOR YOKE, IN FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 47 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
28 Oct 1991 Bell 47D-1
N925V
Rome, Georgia, United States Silver Hawk Aviation No injuries -
26 Sep 1991 Bell 47G-5A
N59424
Pearsall, Texas, United States Tiller Helicopter Service, Inc Minor injuries -
19 May 1991 Bell 47G-3B-1
N73903
Malott, Washington, United States Cascade Helicopter No injuries -
20 Aug 1991 Bell 47G
N4062G
Kettleman City, California, United States Shafter Aviation, Inc. Minor injuries -
10 Sep 1991 Bell 47G-3B-2
N2618D
Chula Vista, California, United States K & L Helicopters Minor injuries -
15 May 1991 Bell 47-G3B1
N2619B
Hughesville, Pennsylvania, United States Agricultural Helicopter Serv. Serious injuries -

All 1,633 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Jun 1991 Gremminger KOLB TWINSTAR
N7175J
St. Genevieve, Missouri, United States Greg W. Gremminger Serious injuries -
13 Aug 1991 Manville AVID FLYER
N714J
Mexico, Missouri, United States George Manville Minor injuries -
10 Sep 1991 Schweizer G164B
N8357K
Gideon, Missouri, United States Wilkens Flying Service No injuries -
4 Apr 1991 Akins STINGER
N7XR
Blairstown, Missouri, United States Richard Akins Fatal 1
17 Apr 1991 Huff PULSAR
N89PB
Missouri City, Missouri, United States Glenn E. Huff Serious injuries -
2 Oct 1991 Cessna 150L
N11540
Taylor, Missouri, United States Haerr Field, Inc. Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States