Bell 47L accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 6, 1989
On May 6, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Bell 47L (helicopter), registered N6330D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Downtown Airpark 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
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT BY THE INSTRUCTOR IN THAT HE ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO OVERPOWER HIS CONTROL INPUTS AFTER AN UNEXPECTED GUST OF WIND MOVED THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Downtown Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47L · all 47Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6330D · registry record · serial 1044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SAID HE AND A BEGINNER STUDENT WERE IN A HOVER PRACTICE AREA AND WERE REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER TO ALLOW ANOTHER HELICOPTER TO HOVER OUT FROM THE RAMP. HE SAID HE ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO FOLLOW HIM ON THE CONTROLS, AND DURING THE HOVER LANDING, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE TAIL TO PITCH UP. AN UNEXPECTED CONTROL INPUT BY THE STUDENT CAUSED AN OVERCORRECTION WHICH ALLOWED THE TAIL ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR, THE SKIDS, AND THE BUBBLE CANOPY.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,448 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 6,013 as pilot in command; 625 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,377 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-335-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Allied Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 5F2 at 3:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 N6330D 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.