# NTSB FTW89LA104: Bell 47D-1, N2202C, Ardmore, OK, May 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1989, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Ardmore, OK
- Location: 34.1743° N, 97.1436° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ardmore, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1743&lon=-97.1436&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA104

## Probable cause

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.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - power on landing - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2202C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2202C-1997-11-03), registration cancelled 1997-11-03, S/N M1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D-1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: M-1
- Airframe hours: 3434
- Engines: FRANKLIN 210 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Versatile Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1989, 21 hours before
- Departed: 1FO
- Destination: 1FO
- Airport: IFO, Ardmore Downtown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 343 total, 95 in this make and model, 205 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890526059139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890526059139A), May 26, 1989: Bell 47D1, Ardmore, OK, Substantial damage. Landed hard from a practice autorotation. Student unable to flare for landing. Unable to correct, blamed wind.

## Other investigations on N2202C (2)

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 FTW95FA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA181), Apr 25, 1995: Bell 47D1 (N2202C), Ardmore, OK, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A POWER TRANSMISSION ARRAY STATIC LINE WHEN THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND DUAL (PRIVATE PILOT) STUDENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
- [NTSB FTW90LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA041), Dec 4, 1989: Bell 47D1 (N2202C), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY TAIL WINDS.

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.

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