# NTSB ANC75AA035: Bell 205A, N2970W, Medfra, AK, October 9, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 9, 1974
- Place: Medfra, AK · MEDFRA, AK
- Location: 63.1067° N, 154.7142° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Medfra, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.1067&lon=-154.7142&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 1983
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140969
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC75AA035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75AA035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3420   74/10/9 NR.MEDFRA,AK          BELL 205A           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 25, 1587
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N2970W              PX-  2  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1447 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         MCGRATH,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- M/R SEPARATED DUE OVERLOAD,EVIDENCE OF MAST BUMPING.LOW CLOUDS,POSS SNOW IN AREA.FOUND 8/14/82.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2970W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2970W-2000-03-07), registration cancelled 2000-03-07, S/N 30112 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 205A
- Registry model: [Bell 205A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-205a-1) (registry code 1181414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19741009685179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741009685179A), Oct 9, 1974: Bell 205A1, Medfra, AK, No damage, 2 fatal. Struck trees on a mountainside. Indicates pilot made last minute pull up to avoid collision. Found 8 years later.

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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