Bell 47D-1 N2202C

Summary

On 26 May 1989 at about 22:15 local time, a Bell 47D-1 registered N2202C was involved in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 1989 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Ardmore Downtown (IFO)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 47D-1

Registration

N2202C

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW89LA104

Nobody was injured.

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEVELOPING A DANGEROUS SINK RATE DURING THE AUTOROTATION AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION BY EXECUTING A POWER RECOVERY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACFT WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF A HARD LNDG DURING A PRACTICE TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION THAT WAS BEING DEMONSTRATED BY THE CFI TO THE STUDENT PLT. WINDS HAD INCREASED DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLT TO THE PT THAT THE STUDENT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE ACFT, WHEN THE CFI DECIDED TO DEMONSTARTE AUTOROTATIONS. DURING THE 2ND AUTO, THE ACFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE DURING FINAL DESCENT WHICH THE CFI COULD NOT ARREST PRIOR TO THE HARD LANDING. THE CFI STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE NORTHERLY AT 13 KTS GUSTONG TO 21 KTS AND THAT HE FELT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.