Bell 47D1 accident near Nixa, Missouri, February 21, 1988
On February 21, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N7735, was destroyed in an accident near Nixa, Missouri (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- February 21, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nixa, Missouri · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N7735 · no longer on the register · serial K8117
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE PROCESS OF MOVING THE HELICOPTER FROM THE HANGAR THE RIGHT SKID SLIPPED OFF THE CONCRETE HELIPAD AND BECAME STUCK IN THE MUD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DISLODGE THE SKID BY BRINGING THE AIRCRAFT TO A HOVER. THE LEFT SKID BECAME AIRBORNE AND CONTACTED THE PAD SEVERAL TIMES ACCORDING TO A WITNESS. AS THE SKID BECAME DISLODGED THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED AND CONTACTED THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POST-IMPACT FIRE.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from SGF, 15 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.