Amateur-built EXECUTIVE accident near Gerald, Missouri, April 28, 1987
On April 28, 1987 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N4891H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gerald, Missouri. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- April 28, 1987 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gerald, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXECUTIVE
- Registration
- N4891H · no longer on the register · serial 3078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STU PIC WAS SOLO ON A X-COUNTRY FLT WHEN THE ENG BACKFIRED. THE STU ENTERED AUTOROTATION WITH LOW ROTOR RPM WHICH ACCELERATED THE DESCENT RATE. THE STU FLARED BEFORE TOUCHDOWN BUT DID NOT LEVEL THE HELO IN TIME TO LAND. THE TAILBOOM STRUCK THE GND AND THE HELO ROTATED ON ITS SIDE. THE STU STATED THAT THE LNDG SITE HE HAD CHOSEN CONSISTED OF SLOPING TERRAIN. THE STU STATED THAT HE FLARED AND THE TAILBOOM STRUCK THE UPSLOPING TERRAIN. THE STU STATED THAT HAD HE LEVELED OFF AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE ENG INSP REVEALED THAT THE ENG TIMING BELT HAD SLIPPED, EFFECTIVELY DISABLING THE ENG.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 106 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 106 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Washington MO at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Bland MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from STL, 51 miles away
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.