Bell 206L-1 accident near West Plains, Missouri, January 31, 2003
On January 31, 2003 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N27AE, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Plains, Missouri (West Plains Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The excessive descent rate that required an abrupt flare, resulting in the main rotor severing the tailboom.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2003 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- West Plains, Missouri · West Plains Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N27AE · registry record · serial 45192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the completion of a simulated autorotation maneuver the main rotor severed the tailboom. The check airman reported that at approximately 20 feet above ground level he "determined the sink rate was excessive" and he decided to perform a "power recovery." The check airman stated, "I repositioned my hand, started opening the throttle while leveling the aircraft and applying a cushioning pitch pull." The helicopter impacted off the left side of the runway with "the skids aligned with the direction of travel slightly aft skid low." The check airman reported, "The aircraft rocked up onto the toes of the skids and I increased collective pitch and applied aft cyclic, when I did the main rotor impacted the tailboom severing it."
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
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,850 hours in all; 2,300 in this make and model; 3,550 as pilot in command; 220 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 12, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,566 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,580 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 31, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,440 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 27, 2003; 16.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNO West Plains MO at 6:15 pm
- Destination: UNO West Plains MO
- Runway 180, 5,102 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from UNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N27AE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.