Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jones, Oklahoma 73049
Friday, July 10, 1998 12:22 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter impacted trees during cruise flight at low altitude in visual meteorological conditions. Subsequently, the helicopter impacted the ground and a fire erupted. Aboard were a 122-hour private pilot, who had just successfully completed the checkride for addition of a rotorcraft rating to his certificate, and his 8,394-hour flight instructor. The flight was en route from the airport where the checkride had taken place, and they were heading back to the airport where the helicopter was based. The accident occurred in a rural area approximately 13 nautical miles from the departure airport and along the direct route of flight to the destination. A witness observed the helicopter in cruise flight at a 'pretty low' altitude with the tail swinging from side to side. The witness reported that as the helicopter neared a 'big tree' in its flight path, the helicopter's 'nose went up a little, and the helicopter rose up over the tree.' The witness looked away, heard the noise of the helicopter stop, looked back, and 'saw pieces flying through the air.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees during a low altitude flight/maneuver.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1222
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City JONES
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73049
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID PWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1299
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1607
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12085
NTSB Number FTW98FA306
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 47G
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G
Aircraft Serial Number 829
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 6026
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALLIED HELICOPTER SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 6216
Aircraft Owner City TULSA
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74148
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code HMIA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 2DT
Departure City OKLAHOMA CITY
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1205
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5F2
Destination City TULSA
Destination State OK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --