# Accident 19960910035739A: Bell 47G3B1, Rangely, CO, September 10, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 10, 1996, 16:15 local time
- Place: Rangely, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: ARUA
- Location: 40.0799° N, 108.7710° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0799&lon=-108.7710&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1335X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1335X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TVO-435-GIA (registry code 41526, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435B1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 22,478 total, 9,264 in this make and model, 128 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96TA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96TA383) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960910035739A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DURING HERDING HORSES FOR BOFL CONTRACT. TAIL ROTOR HIT LARGE SAGE BRUSH. TOO LOW TO AUTO. IMPACTED. CHOPPED TAIL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96TA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96TA383), Sep 10, 1996: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N1335X), Rangely, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's excessive cyclic control input during a low altitude operation, and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance from high vegetation (sage brush). The proximity of high vegetation was a…

## Other reports on N1335X (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19970616014299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970616014299A), Jun 16, 1997: Bell 47G3B1 (N1335X), Fallon, NV, Substantial damage. Experienced engine failure while returning to base.
- [Accident 19790714029209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790714029209A), Jul 14, 1979: Bell 47G3B1 (N1335X), Montello, NV, Substantial damage. Helicopter was being used in a horse roundup. Evidence was found to indicate a tail rotor strike.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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