Bell BH47G accident near Bucklin, Missouri, April 28, 1992
On April 28, 1992 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Bell BH47G (helicopter), registered N90642, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bucklin, Missouri. It was a personal 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 HELICOPTER PILOT'S ABRUPT TOUCHDOWN DURING THE FORCED LANDING. RELATED FACTORS WERE THE PRESENCE OF CARBURETOR ICE CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1992 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bucklin, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell BH47G
- Registration
- N90642 · no longer on the register · serial 1131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI STATED HE INITIATED A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF. HE ESTIMATED THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 10 TO 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN '...IT FELT LIKE THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER AND TRIED TO YAW TOWARDS THE LEFT....I TRIED TO GET IT BACK ON THE GROUND AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS I COULD.' HE STATED HE OVERCOMPENSATED FOR A PERCEIVED 'UPWARD PRESSURE' ON THE COLLECTIVE, AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND ABRUPTLY. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR MODERATE CARBURETOR ICING. THE STUDENT PILOT (GROUND WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT) REPORTED THE CFI MADE A NUMBER OF ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 5,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,946 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1991; 16 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 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.