Air Park South Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Springfield, Missouri 65808
Wednesday, April 27, 1994 10:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND INITIATED A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION FOR A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STUDENT DURING A LOW LEVEL (90 FOOT AGL) AGRICULTURAL TURN. DURING THE FLARE TO LANDING, COLLECTIVE WAS APPLIED EARLY, ROTOR RPM DECAYED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED WITH A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND PITCHED NOSE DOWN. BOTH PILOTS APPLIED AFT CYCLIC, RESULTING IN ROTOR BLADE TO FUSELAGE CONTACT, SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot-in-command misjudging the autorotation and improper use of collective.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SPRINGFIELD
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65808
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AIR PARK SOUTH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2K2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1336
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID SGF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1267
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1191
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 27 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N46DH
NTSB Number CHI94LA142
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G
Aircraft Serial Number VH-2
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 6745
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARLIE R. HILL
Aircraft Owner Street Address AIR PARK SOUTH, PO BOX 10603
Aircraft Owner City SPRINGFIELD
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65808
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CARLIE R. HILL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address AIR PARK SOUTH, PO BOX 10603
Operator City SPRINGFIELD
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 65808
Operator Code DIC
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2528
Runway Width 39
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --