Bell 47G accident near Calwood, Missouri, May 9, 1985
On May 9, 1985 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N951B, was destroyed in an accident near Calwood, Missouri. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- May 9, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Calwood, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N951B · registry record · serial 695
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N951B CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA DURING A POWERLINE PATROL FLT WHICH INCLUDED PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE POWERLINE. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING PARALLEL TO THE POWERLINE IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX AND HUB, ALONG WITH ON TAIL ROTOR BLADE HAD SEPARATED IN FLT AND WAS LOCATED APRX 50 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE OTHER TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS LOCATED APRX 160 YARDS AWAY FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE BROKEN YOKE REVEALED A FATIGUE FRACTURE WHICH PROGRESSED FROM MULTIPLE ORIGINS AT THE ROOT OF THE INTERNAL THREADS OF THE SPLINE. THE EXAM ALSO SHOWED THAT THE INTERNAL THREADS WERE NITRIDE TREATED. THIS WAS NOT A BELL HELICOPTER PART. THE PMA, UNDER WHICH THIS PART WAS MANUFACTURED, PROHIBITS NITRIDE TREATMENT OF THE SPINDLE BORE & THREADS.
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: 210 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,280 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1985; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: COU Columbia MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from COU, 21 miles away
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.