Bell 47-62 accident near Aurora, Missouri, March 5, 1994
On March 5, 1994 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Bell 47-62 (helicopter), registered N6711D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Missouri (Aurora 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DUAL STUDENTS INADEQUATE FLARE AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S (FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR) DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1994 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Missouri · Aurora Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-62 · all 47-62s on the register
- Registration
- N6711D · registry record · serial 2192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONAL LANDINGS DURING A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. A 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED BY THE STUDENT. THE CFI STATED THE GROUND CLOSURE RATE WAS TOO FAST AND THE FLARE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO SLOW THE RATE OF DESCENT. THE CFI REPORTED THAT JUST AS HE REACHED FOR THE CONTROLS, THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND ON THE REAR ONE THIRD PORTION OF THE SKIDS AND BOUNCED. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,564 hours in all; 718 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 7,744 as pilot in command; 686 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 CHI94LA133.