Bell 47D1 N202CH

Summary

On 20 April 2016 at about 15:30 local time, a Bell 47D1 registered N202CH was involved in an accident near Myerstown, Pennsylvania, 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

20 April 2016 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Myerstown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Deck Airport (9D4)

Coordinates

40.0000, -76.0000

Aircraft

Bell 47D1

Registration

N202CH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1951

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Myerstown → Myerstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA167

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that she was providing a flight review to the pilot and was demonstrating an autorotation that would terminate with power. She entered the maneuver about 1,500 ft above ground level (agl) by reducing the throttle to idle and lowering the collective to the "full-down" position. The carburetor heat was off. The instructor stabilized the approach at 45 mph but noted that the engine's idle speed was about 100 rpm higher than normal. The instructor was not satisfied with the needle split between the engine and rotor rpm, so she advanced the throttle to the "full-open" position. However, the engine did not respond. The instructor entered a flare about 50 ft agl, and the helicopter impacted the ground with little-to-no forward speed, bounced, and then rolled over to the left. The pilot confirmed that the throttle was full open and that there was no engine power. Postaccident examination of the helicopter and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.