Bell 47D1 accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, December 4, 1989
On December 4, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell 47D1 (helicopter), registered N2202C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma (Downtown airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY TAIL WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Downtown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47D1 · all 47D1s 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
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.
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: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,808 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 1,545 as pilot in command; 220 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-335-5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1FO at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 1FO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.