Bell 47G accident near Ozark, Missouri, September 2, 1989
On September 2, 1989 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bell 47G (helicopter), registered N182JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Missouri (Air Park South 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT TO PROPERLY FLARE DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT SKID. THE CFI ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE STUDENT'S ACTIONS ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1989 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Missouri · Air Park South · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G · all 47Gs on the register
- Registration
- N182JR · registry record · serial 22
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING AUTOROTATION LANDINGS, THE TAIL BOOM BEGAN TO RISE AFTER TOUCHDOWN WHICH RESULTED IN THE HELICOPTER ROLLING TO THE RIGHT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE TERRAIN. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT SKID, FORWARD OF THE FRONT UPRIGHT HAD FRACTURED. THE BROKEN PORTION OF THE SKID HAD CUT A GROOVE IN THE GRASS A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 2 FEET BEFORE IMBEDDING ITSELF, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO STOP. THE FORWARD INERTIA BOUGHT THE TAIL BOOM UP WHICH RESULTED IN THE ROTOR STRIKE AND ROLL OVER.
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: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 379 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 265 as pilot in command; 44 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,707 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 1989; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-53 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2K2 Ozark MO at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 800 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 5:15 pm from SGF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N182JR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.