NTSB CAROL · Event
Event MKC82DA135
Registry · N4070B
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
BELL 47J-2
TCDS
2H1 · SCOTT'S-BELL 47 INC
Engine
LYCOMING VO-540 SERIES (310 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19600729
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4C8FC
Registrant of record
WHEATLEY LESTER E JR
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TOOK OFF AND WAS GOING THROUGH TRANSLATIONAL LIFT AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 FT AGL WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. HE SAID THE LOUD BANG WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A POWER LOSS. AN IMMEDIATE DESCENT WAS MADE AND THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED HARD WITH A FORWARD SPEED OF ABOUT 30 KTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM WAS CHOPPED OFF AND THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED WHEN THE HELICOPTER SKIDDED THOUGH A DITCH. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AFTER LANDING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DEFICIENCIES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1982_MKC82DA135.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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