# NTSB ANC74AA022: Alouette SA318B, N7329, Bettles, AK, August 14, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 14, 1973
- Place: Bettles, AK · BETTLES, AK
- Location: 66.9073° N, 151.5381° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bettles, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9073&lon=-151.5381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189314
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC74AA022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74AA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2228  73/8/14  NR.BETTLES,ALAS       ALOUETTE SA318B     CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 1500
        TIME - 0800                    N7329               PX-  0  0  1  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 13 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BETTLES,ALAS                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LACK OF LUBRICATION-SPECIFIC PART,NOT SYSTEM
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT LND TWICE ENRTE DUE VIBRATION.2ND LDG MECH CKD ACFT.CONT FLT.T/R DRIVE SHAFT BEARING FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7329](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7329-2013-09-26), registration cancelled 2013-09-26, S/N 2240, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ALOUETTE SA318B
- Registry model: [S N I A S SA 318C ALOUETTE AST](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-sa-318c-alouette-ast) (registry code 8680511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ASTAZOU IIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-iia) (registry code 60006, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730814029269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730814029269A), Aug 14, 1973: Snias SA318C, Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. Plt lnd twice enrte due vibration.2nd ldg mech ckd acft. Cont flt.t/r drive shaft bearing failed.

## Other investigations on N7329 (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 SEA76DYE45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76DYE45), Jun 17, 1976: Aerospatle SE3133 (N7329), Clearwater, WA, destroyed

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.

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