Bell 47D-1 accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, May 26, 1989
On May 26, 1989 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Bell 47D-1 (helicopter), registered N2202C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma (Ardmore Downtown 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
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEVELOPING A DANGEROUS SINK RATE DURING THE AUTOROTATION AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION BY EXECUTING A POWER RECOVERY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1989 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Ardmore Downtown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D-1 · all 47D-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2202C · registry record · serial M-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF A HARD LNDG DURING A PRACTICE TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION THAT WAS BEING DEMONSTRATED BY THE CFI TO THE STUDENT PLT. WINDS HAD INCREASED DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLT TO THE PT THAT THE STUDENT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE ACFT, WHEN THE CFI DECIDED TO DEMONSTARTE AUTOROTATIONS. DURING THE 2ND AUTO, THE ACFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE DURING FINAL DESCENT WHICH THE CFI COULD NOT ARREST PRIOR TO THE HARD LANDING. THE CFI STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE NORTHERLY AT 13 KTS GUSTONG TO 21 KTS AND THAT HE FELT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 343 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,434 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1989; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 210 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1FO at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 1FO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N2202C 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.