# NTSB FTW93LA090: Bell 206B, N224TV, Oklahoma City, OK, February 23, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 1993, 17:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.430423, -97.51976 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4304&lon=-97.5198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA090 ## Probable cause THE PASSENGERS INADVERTENT CONTROL INTERFERENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE PASSENGER ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, hover - aircraft handling - improper, passenger - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command - control interference - inadvertent, passenger (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis A HELICOPTER PILOT ALLOWED THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF HIS HELICOPTER TO LIGHTLY RIDE THE CONTROLS WHILE HE DEMONSTRATED THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE AT A 3 FOOT HOVER. THE PASSENGER APPLIED TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE CYCLIC WHICH CAUSED THE REAR OF THE RIGHT SKID TO STRIKE THE GROUND WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING SIDEWARDS. THE STUCK RIGHT SKID CREATED A PIVOT POINT FOR A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE ## Factual narrative On February 23, 1993, at approximately 1725 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N224TV, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain while hovering at the Downtown Airpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The instructor pilot sustained minor injuries, while his two passengers escaped uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the helicopter terminated a VFR flight from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and proceeded to a hover area at the airport to demonstrate basic hovering flight maneuvers to the passengers. According to the pilot, he had the helicopter outfitted with dual controls in order to provide the front seat occupant of the helicopter with the feel of the helicopter. In a level, open area of the airpark, he proceeded to demonstrate the flight characteristics of the helicopter while hovering at 3 feet. The pilot stated that he allowed his friend in the front seat to lightly ride along on the controls. The passenger applied too much pressure to the cyclic causing the helicopter to drift to the left, followed by an overcorrection to the right, which the pilot was unable to override. The pilot further stated that the rear of the right landing gear skid struck the ground, creating a pivot point for a "dynamic roll." The helicopter came to rest on its right side with its tailboom severed from the fuselage. All occupants exited the helicopter unassisted. According to witnesses, the helicopter was observed hovering in an erratic fashion, making abrupt attitude and altitude changes. Just prior to the main rotor blades striking the ground, the helicopter was observed hovering backwards until the right rear skid tube impacted the ground. The wreckage was released to the operator at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N224TV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N224TV-2013-04-23), registration cancelled 2013-04-23, S/N 2482, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2482 - Airframe hours: 3601 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jonhnson, James P., doing business as Interstate Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: Jonhnson, James P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 20, 1993, 7 hours before - Airport: 2DT, Downtown Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,243 total, 1,821 in this make and model, 6,168 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OKC, 5 nm away ## 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 19930223003179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930223003179A), Feb 23, 1993: Bell 206B, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. Allowed passenger on controls while demonstrating 3 foot AGL hover. Passenger over controlled. Skid hit. Rolled over 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. --- 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.