Bell OH-58A accident near Jefferson City, Missouri, October 26, 2013
On October 26, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell OH-58A (helicopter), registered N283MP, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Jefferson City, Missouri (Jefferson City Memorial airport). It was a public-use flight (state) under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jefferson City, Missouri · Jefferson City Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A · all OH-58As on the register
- Registration
- N283MP · registry record · serial 68-16918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (state) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction reported that the purpose of the flight was to remain in the airport traffic pattern while practicing autorotation landings. He stated that, after about 45 minutes of flight training, the engine began to fluctuate between full and half power while the helicopter was climbing on a downwind leg. The helicopter also experienced an uncommanded yaw with each engine power fluctuation. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and entered a straight-in autorotation toward a nearby field. The helicopter touched down with a slight forward ground run, during which the left skid dug into the soft soil, which caused the helicopter to rotate 180 degrees before it stopped. The main rotor blades severed the tail boom from the fuselage during the forced landing. A postaccident examination revealed no airframe anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the helicopter. During a test run, the accident engine demonstrated normal operation at all power settings and was capable of producing maximum takeoff horsepower. Uncontaminated fuel was found onboard the helicopter. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,446 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,313 as pilot in command; 2 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 24, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,403 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 5,233 as pilot in command; 1,974 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 26, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,683 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 2012; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce T63-A-720 (turboshaft); 2,110 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JEF Jefferson City MO at 5:15 pm
- Destination: JEF Jefferson City MO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from JEF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN14TA020.