Downtown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
Monday, December 4, 1989 11:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/4/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ARDMORE
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73402
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DOWNTOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LFO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 840
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2107
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 4 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1140
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41604
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2202C
NTSB Number FTW90LA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47D1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47D1
Aircraft Serial Number M-1
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VERSATILE AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1433
Aircraft Owner City ARDMORE
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73402
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
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1FO
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 1FO
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --