# NTSB FTW96LA192: Bell 47D1, N5226, Ardmore, OK, April 26, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 1996, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Ardmore, OK - Coordinates: 34.190757, -97.109191 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1908&lon=-97.1092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19823/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA192 ## Probable cause the student's inadvertent dynamic rollover, and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, takeoff - dynamic rollover - inadvertent, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis During a familiarization flight with a flight instructor, the pilot-rated student landed the helicopter in tall grass approximately 50 feet short of the intended touchdown point. While attempting to take off with 'the right skid embedded in soft earth,' the helicopter 'rolled to the right and came to rest on its side.' The pilot-rated student held a German private pilot certificate with a helicopter rating. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 1996, about 1830 central daylight time, a Bell 47D1 helicopter, N5226, registered to a private owner, and operated by Versatile Aviation as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, was substantially damaged when it rolled over on takeoff at Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport, Ardmore, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight instructor and his pilot rated student were not injured. The familiarization flight originated from Ardmore, Oklahoma, about 15 minutes before the accident. The flight instructor and the operator reported that, during a familiarization flight, the private pilot landed the helicopter in tall grass approximately 50 feet short of the intended touchdown point. While attempting to takeoff with "the right skid embedded in soft earth," the helicopter "rolled to the right and came to rest on its side." The pilot rated student holds a German private pilot certificate with a helicopter rating. An examination of the helicopter by the operator revealed that the main rotor blades and head assembly sustained substantial damage. The cabin and bubble assembly were also damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5226](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5226-2014-10-27), registration cancelled 2014-10-27, S/N 37, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47D1 - Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 37 - Airframe hours: 14396 - Engines: Franklin O-335-5D 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Versatile Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Randall Hickman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 1996, 5 hours before - Departed: IF0 - Airport: 1F0, Downtown Ardmore Exec ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 450 total, 224 in this make and model, 373 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19960426008929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960426008929A), Apr 26, 1996: Bell 47D1, Ardmore, OK, Substantial damage. 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… ## Other investigations on N5226 (4) 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 FTW02LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA044), Dec 1, 2001: Bell 47G (N5226), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight instructor's selection of an unsuitable area for practicing a full touchdown autorotation, which resulted in a nose over. A contributing factor was the soft ground. - [NTSB FTW85LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA074), Dec 7, 1984: Bell 47D1 (N5226), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW76FPA15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FPA15), Dec 7, 1975: Bell 47D-1 (N5226), Irving, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX75FUA04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75FUA04), Jul 28, 1974: Bell 47D-1 (N5226), Seal Beach, CA, substantial damage 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.