# Accident 20040805019359A: Bell 47G3B1, Troy City, TX, August 5, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2004, 15:45 local time
- Place: Troy City, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.2944° N, 97.2969° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2944&lon=-97.2969&mi=10
- Aircraft: N47713, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47713) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Reported engine: LYC TVO435*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,120 total, 285 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04CA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA207) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040805019359A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 3:45 P.M., LOCAL TIME, THE CFI PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING A STRAIGHT IN AUTO-ROTATION MANEUVER TO THE STUDENT PILOT. THE PILOT REPORTED HE INITIATED THE LAST AUTO-ROTATION AT 1800 FEET MSL. AT 600 FEET AGL, HE REDUCED PITCH ATTITUDE IN ORDER TO REGAIN AIRSPEED TO CUSHION THE FINAL PORTION OF THE AUTO-ROTATION. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, THE AIRSPEED WAS SLUGGISH TO RECOVER AND NEVER INCREASED AS EXPECTED. AT 50 FEET AGL, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INITIATED FULL COLLECTIVE WITH FULL POWER WHEN HE LOST AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE SURFACE ONCE THEN BOUNCED INTO THE AIR A COUPLE OF FEET, AND ON FINAL TOUCH DOWN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. THE WRECKAGE CAME TO REST IN AN OPEN FIELD, AND ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE HELICOPTER WERE ACCOUNTED FOR AT THE SITE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL, IT WAS MISSING. NO FATALITIES OR INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

## 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 FTW04CA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA207), Aug 5, 2004: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N47713), Troy, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's improper flare, resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the high density altitude.

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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