Bell 47J-2A accident near Interior, South Dakota, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bell 47J-2A (helicopter), registered N8545F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Interior, South Dakota. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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 14, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Interior, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47J-2A · all 47J-2As on the register
- Registration
- N8545F · no longer on the register · serial 3704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A SIGHT-SEEING FLT OVER A PARK, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD NOISE & THE HELICOPTER SHUDDERED & LOST POWER. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT WAS OVER A CANYON, SO THE PLT LOOKED FOR THE FLATEST AREA TO LAND & BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED INSTEAD OF SLIDDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SKIDS BENT, THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE TAIL BOOM. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG FAILED AFTER A CONNECTING ROD BOLT HAD FAILED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 387 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 13, 1983; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.