# NTSB FTW90LA041: Bell 47D1, N2202C, Ardmore, OK, December 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1989, 11:00 local (17:00 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: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23084
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23084/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA041

## Probable cause

PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY TAIL WINDS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - aerial
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance,helicopter hover performance - exceeded
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

AFTER AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER LANDED ON A TAXIWAY AND THE STUDENT PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE. DUE TO LIMITED GROUND CLEARANCE, STUDENTS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO POSITION THE HELICOPTER ONTO THE NEARBY REFUELING PAD. THEREFORE, THE CFI MANNED THE HELICOPTER, WITH THE STUDENT NOW A PASSENGER AND AIR TAXIED DOWNWIND TO THE PAD. ONCE ON THE PAD, GUSTY TAILWINDS PROMPTED THE CFI TO REALIGN THE HELICOPTER. AS POWER WAS ADDED, WITH THE AIRCRAFT HEADING EAST, CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 100 FEET WEST OF THE PAD. THE WIND WAS FROM 270 DEGREES AT 15 GUSTING TO 22 KNOTS.

## 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 47D1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: M-1
- Engines: FRANKLIN O-335-5D 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Versatile Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1FO
- Destination: 1FO
- Airport: LFO, Downtown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,808 total, 145 in this make and model, 1,545 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 28 °F

## 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 19891204049089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891204049089A), Dec 4, 1989: Bell 47D1, Ardmore, OK, Substantial damage. Repositioning helicopter on ramp,rolled over as it became light on skids.

## 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 FTW89LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA104), May 26, 1989: Bell 47D-1 (N2202C), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. 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…

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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