# NTSB ANC76DAH16: Bell 47D-1, N117B, Birchwood, AK, May 25, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 25, 1976
- Place: Birchwood, AK · BIRCHWOOD, AK
- Location: 61.4053° N, 149.4689° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Birchwood, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4053&lon=-149.4689&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC76DAH16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAH16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2628  76/5/25  NR.BIRCHWOOD,AK       BELL 47D-1          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 3070
        TIME - 1545                    N117B               PX-  1  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 105 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BIRCHWOOD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FIELD SITE                  ANCHORAGE,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- LND IN 5FT OF WATER. PAX DROWNED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N117B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117B-2009-06-25), registration cancelled 2009-06-25, S/N 37, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D-1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Birchwood

## 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 19760525028909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760525028909A), May 25, 1976: Bell 47D1, Birchwood, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lnd in 5FT of water. Pax drowned.

## Other investigations on N117B (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 ANC66A0041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC66A0041), May 2, 1966: Bell 47D1 (N117B), Wassila, AK, substantial damage

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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