Bell 47G2 N1774

Summary

On 17 August 1999 at about 01:00 local time, a Bell 47G2 registered N1774 was involved in an accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 1999 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Downtown Executive (1F0)

Coordinates

34.1906, -97.1102

Aircraft

Bell 47G2

Registration

N1774

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Oklahoma City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW99LA224

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the high density altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor heard 'a banging noise accompanied with an increase of engine rpm and a decrease of rotor rpm' during takeoff from a high hover. The helicopter entered a left turn and the pilot rolled the throttle off to enter an autorotation. The helicopter landed hard with low rotor rpm. The main rotor blades contacted the tailboom, and the skid landing gear collapsed. Examination of the engine, main transmission, and free wheeling clutch revealed no discrepancies that would have prevented normal flight operations. Prior to commencing the planned dual cross country flight, the helicopter's fuel system had been filled. The density altitude was calculated at 3,040 feet. The operator stated that the accident could have been prevented by 'not hovering out of ground effect at maximum gross weight with a density altitude of 3,000 foot, and better RPM control.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.