Bell 47D1 (OH-13E) accident near Stockbridge, Michigan, July 11, 1988
On July 11, 1988 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (OH-13E) (helicopter), registered N12087, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockbridge, Michigan. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- July 11, 1988 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Stockbridge, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 (OH-13E) 47D1 (OH-1 · all 47D1 (OH-13E)s on the register
- Registration
- N12087 · registry record · serial 734
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS SPRAYING AN ONION FIELD WHEN HE NOTED A VIBRATION, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE & SEVERE SHAKING OF THE HELICOPTER. HE ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING, BUT THE HELICOPTER WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO CYCLIC & COLLECTIVE INPUTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE GROUND & COLLAPSED DURING TOUCHDOWN, THEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. A POST ACDNT INSPN REVEALED THE BOLT, WHICH CONNECTED THE DRIVE LINK TO THE COLLECTIVE SCISSORS ARM, WAS MISSING.
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
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,877 hours in all; 12,697 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 12,807 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1988; 113 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V4-200-C32 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.