From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Familiarzation flight student landed short in tall grass. Tried takeoff with skid in soft earth. Rolled on side. (-23) during a familiarization flight in the Bell 47D helicopter, the helicopter rated student landed the aircraft in tall grass approximately 50 feet short of the intended touchdown point. The right landing skid was partially imbedded in soft ground. When the instructor pilot attempted to take off, the helicopter rolled to the right and came to rest on its right side. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
FAMILIARZATION FLIGHT STUDENT LANDED SHORT IN TALL GRASS. TRIED TAKEOFF WITH SKID IN SOFT EARTH. ROLLED ON SIDE. (-23) DURING A FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHT IN THE BELL 47D HELICOPTER, THE HELICOPTER RATED STUDENT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN TALL GRASS APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE RIGHT LANDING SKID WAS PARTIALLY IMBEDDED IN SOFT GROUND. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.