# Accident 19980917024909A: Bell 47G2, Ardmore, OK, September 17, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 17, 1998, 09:15 local time - Place: Ardmore, OK - Airport: Ardmore Downtown Executive - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Hovering - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.1902° N, 97.1105° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1902&lon=-97.1105&mi=10 - Aircraft: N1575, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1575-2018-02-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell 47B3 (registry code 1180606, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47b3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G2 - Reported engine: LYC VO435A1F - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Student - Pilot flight hours: 41 total, 12 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA400) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980917024909A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.4) ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1998, AT 0915 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 47-G-2 HELICOPTER, N1575, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE HOVERING AT THE ARDMORE DOWNTOWN EXECUTIVE AIRPORT NEAR ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA. THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY VERSATILE HELICOPTERS INC., OF ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT WHICH ORIGINATED AT 0825. DURING AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE FAA INSPECTOR, THE OPERATOR OF THE HELICOPTER SAID THAT DURING A TAKEOFF TO HOVER, THE HEALS OF THE SKIDS "SUNK INTO THE SOD AND BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT BACK, STRIKING THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES ON THE GROUND." THE OPERATOR ADDED THAT "ONE OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES DEPARTED THE HUB." THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE TAIL ROTOR HIT, THE HELICOPTER "RAISED OFF THE GROUND AND STARTED SPINNING TO THE RIGHT." THE STUDENT PILOT ADDED THAT HE, "ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL THE HELICOPTER BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE TO BRING THE HELICOPTER TO THE GROUND." THE HELICOPTER "HIT THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT SKID AND ROLLED OVER ON TO ITS LEFT SIDE." WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE CALM. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE TAILBOOM WAS DESTROYED, THE CABIN SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 41 HOURS IN THE HELICOPTER AND WAS ON HIS SEVENTH SOLO FLIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. (-23) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS FROM OR TO A HOVER. THE SKIDS SANK IN THE MUD AND THE AFT PORTION STUCK. THE STUDENT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE TO RECOVER. THE TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT SPUN, HIT THE GROUND AND ROLLED. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW98LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA400), Sep 17, 1998: Bell 47-G-2 (N1575), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots failure to maintain clearance with terrain and the ensuing loss of control. ## Other reports on N1575 (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20060113000989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060113000989A), Jan 13, 2006: Bell 47B3 (N1575), Denison, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Inspector [privacy data omitted] and I responded to an accident involving N1575, a Bell 47 helicopter in Denison Texas. We arrived to the scene at… - [Accident 20010321004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010321004619A), Mar 21, 2001: Bell 47B3 (N1575), Ardmore, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Tail rotor drive failure. Failure of the shaft assemby, p/n 47-644-180-9, fig 46-1 and coupling p/n 47-644-130-13, fig 46-4, due to loss of lubrication.… - [Accident 19770918032919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770918032919A), Sep 18, 1977: Bell 47B3 (N1575), Lake Orion, MI, Substantial damage From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.