Brantly Helicopter B-2B accident near Mt Clemens, Michigan, April 27, 1986
On April 27, 1986 at about 5:18 pm local time, a Brantly Helicopter B-2B, registered N2194U, was destroyed in an accident near Mt Clemens, Michigan. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1986 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- Mt Clemens, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantly Helicopter B-2B
- Registration
- N2194U · no longer on the register · serial 405
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER APRX 20 SUCCESSFUL TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS, THE ENG OF THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL, DUE TO A #1 CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. DURING AN AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER LANDED IN TREES & WAS DESTROYED. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTING A NEW STUDENT PILOT, HE HELD NO FAA FLYING CERTIFICATE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER WAS DATED 12/2/75. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED DISCREPANCIES IN THE INSTALLATION OF THE #2, #3 & #4 ROD CAPS. DUE TO THE DAMAGE, PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE #1 ROD CAP COULD NOT BE VERIFIED.
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
- Flight time: 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1975; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from DET, 15 miles away
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.
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.