N224TV

On February 23, 1993, at approximately 1725 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N224TV, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain while hovering at the Downtown Airpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The instructor pilot sustained minor injuries, while his two passengers escaped uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the helicopter terminated a VFR flight from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and proceeded to a hover area at the airport to demonstrate basic hovering flight maneuvers to the passengers.

According to the pilot, he had the helicopter outfitted with dual controls in order to provide the front seat occupant of the helicopter with the feel of the helicopter. In a level, open area of the airpark, he proceeded to demonstrate the flight characteristics of the helicopter while hovering at 3 feet. The pilot stated that he allowed his friend in the front seat to lightly ride along on the controls. The passenger applied too much pressure to the cyclic causing the helicopter to drift to the left, followed by an overcorrection to the right, which the pilot was unable to override.

The pilot further stated that the rear of the right landing gear skid struck the ground, creating a pivot point for a "dynamic roll." The helicopter came to rest on its right side with its tailboom severed from the fuselage. All occupants exited the helicopter unassisted.

According to witnesses, the helicopter was observed hovering in an erratic fashion, making abrupt attitude and altitude changes. Just prior to the main rotor blades striking the ground, the helicopter was observed hovering backwards until the right rear skid tube impacted the ground.

The wreckage was released to the operator at the accident site.