Bell 47D1 accident near Myerstown, Pennsylvania, April 20, 2016
On April 20, 2016 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1951 Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N202CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Myerstown, Pennsylvania (Deck Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2016 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Myerstown, Pennsylvania · Deck Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1, built 1951 · all 47D1s on the register
- Registration
- N202CH · registry record · serial 301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that she was providing a flight review to the pilot and was demonstrating an autorotation that would terminate with power. She entered the maneuver about 1,500 ft above ground level (agl) by reducing the throttle to idle and lowering the collective to the "full-down" position. The carburetor heat was off. The instructor stabilized the approach at 45 mph but noted that the engine's idle speed was about 100 rpm higher than normal. The instructor was not satisfied with the needle split between the engine and rotor rpm, so she advanced the throttle to the "full-open" position. However, the engine did not respond. The instructor entered a flare about 50 ft agl, and the helicopter impacted the ground with little-to-no forward speed, bounced, and then rolled over to the left. The pilot confirmed that the throttle was full open and that there was no engine power. Postaccident examination of the helicopter and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during maneuvering
- Autorotation Attempted remediation/recovery
- Autorotation Loss of engine power (partial) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,034 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 1,777 as pilot in command; 1,318 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,941 hours in all; 21 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,279.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 2015; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335A (piston); 5,456 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9D4 Myerstown PA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 9D4 Myerstown PA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 3:08 pm from MUI, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N202CH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.